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Foster Care

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current levels of fee payments to foster carers; how many foster carers receive no fee payment; how many foster carers are dependent on state benefits; and if he will make a statement. [138111]

Mr. Dhanda: All foster carers receive an allowance which covers the full cost of caring for a child. In addition many foster carers receive a fee. The Fostering Network estimates that approximately 60 per cent. of foster carers receive a fee for their work.

All local authorities determine their own fee structures. Information about fee levels are not collected or monitored centrally.


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Information regarding the number of foster carers in receipt of state benefits is not recorded centrally.

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will take steps to set up a transformation fund for local authorities to enable them to make fee payments to foster carers; and if he will make a statement. [138112]

Mr. Dhanda: According to information providing by The Fostering Network, approximately 60 per cent. of foster carers are already paid a fee. It is for local authorities to determine their own fee structures. The factors which contribute to decisions about fee levels are complex but may, for example, include: the skills, training and experience of the carer; the needs of the child; and the carer's ability to take up paid employment.

Our future agenda for supporting foster carers will be set out in the forthcoming White Paper.

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will include in the White Paper following Care Matters proposals for a registration scheme for foster carers; and if he will make a statement. [138114]

Mr. Dhanda: The forthcoming White Paper on children in care will set out the Government's proposals for delivery across services for children in
21 May 2007 : Column 1074W
care. It will follow on from the proposals published in the Care Matters Green Paper, including in relation to the registration of foster carers.

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will include in the forthcoming White Paper following Care Matters provision for national standards for fee payments to foster carers; and if he will make a statement. [138116]

Mr. Dhanda: The forthcoming White Paper on children in care will set out the Government's proposals for delivery across services for children in care. It will follow on from the proposals published in the Care Matters Green Paper, including those in relation to support for foster carers.

GCSE: North East Region

Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils achieved (a) at least five GCSE grades A* to C and (b) GCSE grades A* to C including English and mathematics in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) south Tyneside, (iii) the north-east and (iv) England in each year since 1997. [118232]

Jim Knight: The following tables contain GCSE results for 15-year-olds in maintained schools, including special schools.

Jarrow
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006( 1)

Percentage gaining 5+ GCSEs A*-C

39

38

42

40

42

43

41

45

52

56

Number of 15 year old pupils

962

937

951

948

1056

1055

1060

1029

947

987

Number of 15 year olds gaining 5+ GCSEs at grades A*-C

373

357

395

378

447

451

430

466

496

552


Jarrow
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006( 1)

Percentage gaining 5+ GCSEs A*-C

35

40

Number of 15 year old pupils

947

987

Number of 15 year olds gaining 5+ GCSEs at grades A*-C including English and Maths

334

398


South Tyneside
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006( 1)

Percentage gaining 5+ GCSEs at A*-C

36

37

40

39

39

42

44

45

52

56

Number of 15 year old pupils

1,873

1,820

1,826

1,839

2,020

2,142

2,054

2,020

1,934

1,997

Number of 15 year olds gaining 5+ GCSEs at grades A*-C

668

672

728

723

789

903

894

912

997

1,110


South Tyneside
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006( 1)

Percentage gaining 5+ GCSEs at A*-C including English and Maths

27

31

32

33

32

34

34

35

34

40

Number of 15 year old pupils

1,873

1,820

1,826

1,839

2,020

2,142

2,054

2,020

1,934

1,997

Number of 15year olds gaining 5+ GCSEs at grades A*-C including English and Maths

511

561

591

607

653

733

696

701

662

791



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North East
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006( 1)

Percentage 5+ GCSEs at A*-C

37

37

39

42

42

44

47

49

53

57

Number of 15 year old pupils

31,234

30,433

30,629

30,473

31,826

31,712

32,045

32,409

31,007

31,687

Number of 15 year olds gaining 5+ GCSEs at grades A*-C

11,492

11,279

12,056

12,694

13,525

14,061

14,985

15,798

16,587

18,154


North East
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006( 1)

Percentage gaining 5+ GCSEs at A*-C including English and Maths

28

28

31

33

34

35

35

36

38

40

Number of 15 year old pupils

31,234

30,433

30,629

30,473

31,826

31,712

32,045

32,409

31,007

31,687

Number of 15 year olds gaining 5+ GCSEs at grades A*-C including English and Maths

8,758

8,642

9,433

10,026

10,684

11,030

11,125

11,584

11,787

12,779


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