Part of Children and Young Persons Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee am 2:00 pm ar 3 Gorffennaf 2008.
My hon. Friend is right. I think that I alluded to the figure of one in 10 earlier. The point about investigations lasting a year or more is that the foster carers in question are out of the fostering pool during that period of suspension. That is a resource that we can ill afford to lose. My plea to the Government is that they think again and commit to bringing to an end once and for all the unjust position in which foster carers are singled out for financial penalty and potential public exposure and humiliation following unfounded allegations.
There are local authorities, such as Portsmouth, that have already recognised the absolute necessity of financial entitlement for foster carers during the period of investigation and have implemented such a system. On that point, and on the issue of identity protection, my colleagues who support the new clause urge the Government to do the same and support the proposed changes in their entirety.