James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of extending home responsibilitiesprotection to foster carers (a) caring for foster children and (b) to cover the entire length of time they have been fostering.[40337]Mr. McCartney: We cannot calculate the cost of extending home responsibilities protection to foster carers whose retirement pensionentitlement is not already protected since this is dependent upon the individual's circumstances at pension age.