Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent progress the Government has made toward reaching the target of 10,000 new foster care places by the end of the Parliament.

The department must expand fostering. That is why creating 10,000 more places for children in foster homes this parliament is a priority, with 14 regional hubs moving towards end-to-end recruitment from September, backed by £12 million in transformation funding. Our Room Makers programme will provide up to £25 million to add additional capacity to existing loving foster homes. We have launched a £12.4 million innovation programme, enhanced digital tools and will launch a communications campaign in the autumn.