Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to ensure that young people in "staying put" arrangements are supported to continue to benefit from a family environment instead of being moved into residential care.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

Supporting care leavers to make a successful transition from care to independence is a priority for this government.

‘Staying Put’ arrangements ensure care leavers can continue to benefit from a stable and secure family setting and prepare for independence at a more gradual pace, rather than facing upheaval at age 18. It allows those who have been in foster care to remain with their carers until 21, where both the young person and the foster carer want it. The legislation requires local authorities to advise, assist and support both the young person and their former foster carers so that the arrangement can continue until the young person becomes 21. ‘Staying Put’ enables young people to build on and nurture their attachments to their foster carers, providing stability and support during their transition to adulthood, just as other young people can rely on their own families for such support.

The government is continuing to fund local authorities to deliver ‘Staying Put’ and project to provide £33.3 million for the programme in the 2025/26 financial year.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to monitor the national minimum allowance for foster carers and ensure that all local authorities pay at least these rates.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

The department is considering the possible benefits and costs of a national register of foster carers as part of our wider work in reforming the children’s social care sector. There are a range of proposals for such a register, all of which require careful consideration.

The national minimum standards for fostering sets out a clear minimum expectation that all “foster carers should receive at least the national minimum allowance for the child, plus any necessary agreed expenses”.

In January 2025, we shared information about how to report underpayment of the national minimum allowance to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) for investigation. The LGSCO have reassured us that they will investigate any reports of underpayment raised with them and ensure action is taken to rectify this.

Fees paid to foster carers are not determined by the government. Instead, fostering services set their own rates based on various factors, such as the skills of the foster carer and the level of support the child requires. The department currently has no plans to carry out a comprehensive review of foster care fees. We encourage local authorities to work together to develop consistent regional offers of financial support to foster carers.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to carry out a comprehensive review of foster carer fees.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

The department is considering the possible benefits and costs of a national register of foster carers as part of our wider work in reforming the children’s social care sector. There are a range of proposals for such a register, all of which require careful consideration.

The national minimum standards for fostering sets out a clear minimum expectation that all “foster carers should receive at least the national minimum allowance for the child, plus any necessary agreed expenses”.

In January 2025, we shared information about how to report underpayment of the national minimum allowance to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) for investigation. The LGSCO have reassured us that they will investigate any reports of underpayment raised with them and ensure action is taken to rectify this.

Fees paid to foster carers are not determined by the government. Instead, fostering services set their own rates based on various factors, such as the skills of the foster carer and the level of support the child requires. The department currently has no plans to carry out a comprehensive review of foster care fees. We encourage local authorities to work together to develop consistent regional offers of financial support to foster carers.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to introducing a national register for foster carers, matching that of social workers, to improve the safeguarding of children.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

The department is considering the possible benefits and costs of a national register of foster carers as part of our wider work in reforming the children’s social care sector. There are a range of proposals for such a register, all of which require careful consideration.

The national minimum standards for fostering sets out a clear minimum expectation that all “foster carers should receive at least the national minimum allowance for the child, plus any necessary agreed expenses”.

In January 2025, we shared information about how to report underpayment of the national minimum allowance to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) for investigation. The LGSCO have reassured us that they will investigate any reports of underpayment raised with them and ensure action is taken to rectify this.

Fees paid to foster carers are not determined by the government. Instead, fostering services set their own rates based on various factors, such as the skills of the foster carer and the level of support the child requires. The department currently has no plans to carry out a comprehensive review of foster care fees. We encourage local authorities to work together to develop consistent regional offers of financial support to foster carers.

Found: Dholakia (Liberal Democrat; Life peer) Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws (Labour; Life peer) Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon

Found: present: Lord Alton of Liverpool (The Chair); Lord Dholakia; Tom Gordon; Afzal Khan; Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon

Found: present: Lord Alton of Liverpool (The Chair); Lord Dholakia; Tom Gordon; Afzal Khan; Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon

Found: present: Lord Alton of Liverpool (The Chair); Lord Dholakia; Tom Gordon; Afzal Khan; Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon

Found: Dholakia (Liberal Democrat; Life peer) Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws (Labour; Life peer) Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon

Found: Q5 Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon: Clause 35 of the Bill permits the transfer of potential evacuees’

Found: Dholakia (Liberal Democrat; Life peer) Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws (Labour; Life peer) Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon

Found: The Chair); Juliet Campbell; Lord Dholakia; Tom Gordon; Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws; Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon

Found: Q4 Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon: As your Government’s report on responding to human rights judgments

Found: Alton of Liverpool (The Chair); Juliet Campbell; Lord Dholakia; Tom Gordon; Afzal Khan; Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon

Found: Juliet Campbell; Lord Dholakia; Tom Gordon; Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws; Afzal Khan; Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon

Found: Alton of Liverpool (Chair); Lord Dholakia; Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws; Afzal Khan; Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether members of the Race Equality Engagement Group will subject to an assessment of any (a) potential and (b) actual conflicts of interest.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The appointment process for Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon and the other members of the Race Equality Engagement Group (REEG) was informal ministerial appointment, by invitation, following appropriate due diligence checks.

This government will publish the terms of reference for the REEG, and the full membership, in due course.

REEG members will not be remunerated but will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in respect of the work of the REEG.

Members are expected to declare any conflicts of interest and to recuse themselves from any work where such a conflict, or perceived conflict, may arise.

The REEG will be supported by the Race Equality Unit, in the Office for Equality and Opportunity, from its existing allocation of staff.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many full time equivalent civil service staff will be allocated to support the work of the Race Equality Engagement Group.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The appointment process for Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon and the other members of the Race Equality Engagement Group (REEG) was informal ministerial appointment, by invitation, following appropriate due diligence checks.

This government will publish the terms of reference for the REEG, and the full membership, in due course.

REEG members will not be remunerated but will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in respect of the work of the REEG.

Members are expected to declare any conflicts of interest and to recuse themselves from any work where such a conflict, or perceived conflict, may arise.

The REEG will be supported by the Race Equality Unit, in the Office for Equality and Opportunity, from its existing allocation of staff.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether the members of the Race Equality Engagement Group will be remunerated.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The appointment process for Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon and the other members of the Race Equality Engagement Group (REEG) was informal ministerial appointment, by invitation, following appropriate due diligence checks.

This government will publish the terms of reference for the REEG, and the full membership, in due course.

REEG members will not be remunerated but will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in respect of the work of the REEG.

Members are expected to declare any conflicts of interest and to recuse themselves from any work where such a conflict, or perceived conflict, may arise.

The REEG will be supported by the Race Equality Unit, in the Office for Equality and Opportunity, from its existing allocation of staff.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what process was used to appoint Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon as Chair of the Race Equality Engagement Group.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The appointment process for Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon and the other members of the Race Equality Engagement Group (REEG) was informal ministerial appointment, by invitation, following appropriate due diligence checks.

This government will publish the terms of reference for the REEG, and the full membership, in due course.

REEG members will not be remunerated but will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in respect of the work of the REEG.

Members are expected to declare any conflicts of interest and to recuse themselves from any work where such a conflict, or perceived conflict, may arise.

The REEG will be supported by the Race Equality Unit, in the Office for Equality and Opportunity, from its existing allocation of staff.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when she plans to announce the members of the Race Equality Engagement Group.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The appointment process for Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon and the other members of the Race Equality Engagement Group (REEG) was informal ministerial appointment, by invitation, following appropriate due diligence checks.

This government will publish the terms of reference for the REEG, and the full membership, in due course.

REEG members will not be remunerated but will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in respect of the work of the REEG.

Members are expected to declare any conflicts of interest and to recuse themselves from any work where such a conflict, or perceived conflict, may arise.

The REEG will be supported by the Race Equality Unit, in the Office for Equality and Opportunity, from its existing allocation of staff.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what process will be used to appoint members of the Race Equality Engagement Group.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The appointment process for Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon and the other members of the Race Equality Engagement Group (REEG) was informal ministerial appointment, by invitation, following appropriate due diligence checks.

This government will publish the terms of reference for the REEG, and the full membership, in due course.

REEG members will not be remunerated but will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in respect of the work of the REEG.

Members are expected to declare any conflicts of interest and to recuse themselves from any work where such a conflict, or perceived conflict, may arise.

The REEG will be supported by the Race Equality Unit, in the Office for Equality and Opportunity, from its existing allocation of staff.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she plans to publish terms of reference for the Race Equality Engagement Group.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The appointment process for Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon and the other members of the Race Equality Engagement Group (REEG) was informal ministerial appointment, by invitation, following appropriate due diligence checks.

This government will publish the terms of reference for the REEG, and the full membership, in due course.

REEG members will not be remunerated but will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in respect of the work of the REEG.

Members are expected to declare any conflicts of interest and to recuse themselves from any work where such a conflict, or perceived conflict, may arise.

The REEG will be supported by the Race Equality Unit, in the Office for Equality and Opportunity, from its existing allocation of staff.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, who the members are of the Race Equality Engagement Group; and how they were appointed.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

On 18 March, I announced our plans to establish a Race Equality Engagement Group to help us develop measures to tackle race inequality. The Group will be chaired by Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon.

We are in the process of appointing the other members of the Group. Members are being recruited to bring a range of expertise from across the public, private and voluntary sectors and from across the country. These are informal ministerial appointments, by invitation, and are not within the scope of the Governance Code for Public Appointments.