Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proposal by the Share Foundation to introduce a 'Default Withdrawal at 21' scheme for HMRC-allocated child trust funds.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is grateful for the suggestion made by the Share Foundation of a way in which HMRC could develop a system of paying out the savings held in matured Child Trust Fund (CTF) accounts that have not been accessed by the account owners by the age of 21.

This proposal is complex and could not be implemented easily, or without allocating significant resources. The savings in these accounts belong to the account owner even if they are not aware of the account’s existence. For HMRC to close these accounts, obtain the savings in those accounts and transfer them with or without the owner’s consent would require careful legal consideration. This is quite apart from the operational systems and resources across Government departments and CTF providers that would be required to monitor the transactions.

The Government is committed to reuniting all young adults with their CTFs and recognises the importance of ensuring that young adults can benefit from these funds as they reach adulthood.

To that end, HMRC continues to work with CTF providers, industry representatives and stakeholders to explore ways of increasing the profile of CTFs and enabling account owners to be aware of and trace their accounts. HMRC has ongoing work with the University and Colleges Admissions Service to encourage awareness among student peer groups and a communications plan which targets young people. HMRC has recently amended gov.uk to reference The Share Foundation’s CTF account tracing service, providing an additional way for young people to trace their accounts.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to match-fund the incentive costs of Stepladder Plus, a money management and learning programme for 15–17 year olds in care operated by the Share Foundation.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

The department is committed to reforming the children’s social care system so that all children can grow up in stable and loving homes. To support this, the department has recently announced that it is investing an additional £44 million in kinship and foster care.

The King’s Speech on 17 July committed to a Children’s Wellbeing Bill, which will ensure our education and children’s social care systems transform lives for millions of children and young people in England. The department will use the Bill to deliver the government’s commitment on children’s social care.

The department wants to ensure that children leaving care have stable homes, access to health services, support to build lifelong loving relationships and are engaged in education, employment and training.

The department does not currently have any plans to provide match funding to incentivise children in care to participate in the Stepladder Plus programme.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to introduce amendments to the Employment Rights Bill to clarify that foster carers are not employees.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

I pay tribute to the vital efforts of foster carers, who carry out a challenging role that requires skill, dedication and love. The government will ensure more children can receive loving care in foster families.

We will work with councils and fostering services to ensure foster carers receive the support they need and deserve. However, there are no plans to use the Employment Rights Bill to legislate on the employment status of foster carers.

My officials are working closely with officials from the Department for Education on how best to support foster carers.

Found: meeting Members present: Baroness Morris of Yardley (The Chair); Lord Bach; Lord Carter of Coles; Lord Laming

Found: : Baroness Morris of Yardley (The Chair); Lord Bach; Lord Blencathra; Lord Carter of Coles; Lord Laming

Found: Kunnath (R.), (1993) 156 N.R. 75 (PC) - Case Law - VLEX 681724373 Lord Laming Enquiry (2003) Climbié

Found: 11 am Watch the meeting Members present: Baroness Morris of Yardley (The Chair); Lord Bach; Lord Laming

Found: meeting Members present: Baroness Morris of Yardley (The Chair); Lord Bach; Lord Carter of Coles; Lord Laming

Found: meeting Members present: Baroness Morris of Yardley (The Chair); Lord Bach; Lord Carter of Coles; Lord Laming

Found: : Baroness Morris of Yardley (The Chair); Lord Bach; Lord Blencathra; Lord Carter of Coles; Lord Laming

Found: meeting Members present: Baroness Morris of Yardley (The Chair); Lord Bach; Lord Carter of Coles; Lord Laming