AS long ago as 2006, the Scottish Government promised to look into introducing a minimum foster care allowance, bringing Scotland into line with the rest of the UK. Now the Government has published its report of the national review of care allowances – set up to consider a national approach to this issue – but it has failed to make a clear and effective recommendation on their implementation, meaning we are no nearer to a solution than before ("Call for national care allowance", The Herald, September 15).
We now find ourselves in a vicious circle of indecision and inaction which will continue to impact negatively on thousands of foster carers and the children and young people they care for. The Scottish Government is yet again procrastinating on this vital decision. And to make this ridiculous situation even more farcical, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has stated it will now be giving “full consideration” to the recommendation that it consider the introduction of a recommended allowance.
Let’s have no more procrastination, no more “consideration” and instead, let’s have the Scottish Government meeting its election manifesto promise to introduce a national minimum allowance for foster and kinship care.
Sara Lurie,
Director of The Fostering Network in Scotland,
2nd Floor, Ingram House, 227 Ingram Street, Glasgow.
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