Children and Young Persons Bill [HL]

Having listened to a young person who left care at 18 and had access to her foster carer for six hours a week, I can say how valuable she felt it was just to talk on the telephone and spend a little time with her. That brings up the issue of resources for the range of placements that we discussed earlier. Obviously, young people staying in their foster carer’s home past the age of 18 could put pressure on the availability of placements. The Minister said that he would reflect on the 2005 report on the cost of foster care and see how the Government have since resourced the requirements laid out there, which were costed at an additional £700 million per annum. I look forward to the Minister’s reply.