§ Bob RussellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the cross-cutting review of children at risk will be considering the resource requirements of the fostering service. [24564]
§ Jacqui SmithI have been asked to reply.
The children at risk cross-cutting review is focused on ways of improving and co-ordinating a range of services to provide early intervention for those children at risk of social exclusion. It is also looking at ways of providing help and support to those children at key transition points which may trigger problems.
The review is not looking specifically at the fostering service nor the associated funding issues. The Department is responsible for looking at the resource requirements of the fostering service, as part of the current spending review round.