§ Mr. ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if independent fostering agencies will be able to approve and register carers under the draft regulations recently published under the Care Standards Act 2000. [136529]
§ Mr. HuttonDraft regulations to bring into effect the provisions of the Care Standards Act 2000 in relation to the regulation of independent fostering agencies are currently being prepared. They will be published as part of the consultation procedure early next year. The current intention is, however, that registered independent fostering agencies will able to approve and hold their own lists of carers.