Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate his department has made of the number of kinship carers in Newbury who would benefit from the introduction of statutory leave and pay entitlements for kinship carers.

The Department has not made this estimate. However, the Parental Leave and Pay Review is considering the full range of parental leave and pay entitlements, alongside the needs of working families who may not currently qualify for support, including kinship carers. We have engaged with a broad range of stakeholders through bilateral meetings and roundtables, including parent advocacy groups representing kinship carers.

The Government is also supporting kinship carers through a pilot scheme in selected local authorities, providing eligible carers with an allowance aligned with the Fostering National Minimum Allowance, supporting up to 5,000 children.