Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to place child asylum seekers in need of foster care into homes rather than temporary accommodation; and what support her Department is providing to foster parents receiving those children.

The department takes the welfare of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) seriously. It is the responsibility of local authorises to ensure children receive the right level of care, including foster care. The department is working closely with the Home Office and local government to ensure that this happens and to increase the number of placements available.

It is important that foster carers receive the support they need to fulfil their role and to meet the needs of the children in their care. This includes caring for UASC. The statutory framework and National Minimum Standards make clear that all foster carers must receive the training and support they need to carry out their role effectively. There will be different needs in local areas, and it is important that fostering service providers have the flexibility to provide additional training and support, including for those caring for UASC. Foster carers will also receive tailored support from their supervising social worker and should receive at least the National Minimum Allowance to cover the costs of caring for their foster child.