§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 25 November 2002,Official Report, column 136W, regarding recruitment of foster carers, how many people requested information packs; how many people who requested information packs subsequently became foster carers; and whether there is a shortage of foster carers. [84760]
§ Jacqui SmithOver 6,000 people contacted the call centre and were sent information packs. Of these, 1,000 were converted into completed expression of interest forms. It is unclear exactly how many foster carers were recruited as a result of the campaign, as local authorities subsequently had their own campaigns, and not all those who applied will have got to final approval. The Department does not collect figures on the number of approved foster carers.