CHILDREN LEFT AT RISK BY FOSTERING LOOPHOLE - BROOKE

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 14th Nov 2007

Thousands of young children in private foster care are left unprotected because the Government has no record of who they are or where they are living.

Statistics released last week show the Government has records of only 1,250 cases of privately fostered children but the British Association for Adoption and Fostering estimates the figure is actually between 15,000 and 20,000.

The Liberal Democrats have joined experts in the field in calling for a compulsory registration scheme for private fostering, but the Government continues to delay even considering such a move.

Research also shows that:

· Despite new stricter rules on vetting and barring of carers there is still no compulsory registration of private foster care arrangements meaning it will be impossible to trace all children in such placements and ensure that their carers are suitable

· The Government has been advised multiple times, including in a report issued by the Department of Health in 2002, that a registration system is the only way to ensure children in private foster care are safe from abuse

· Most children in such arrangements are under the age of five

· Victoria Climbie was in a private foster care arrangement when she was tortured and killed by her "auntie"

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Children, Families and Young Persons Spokesperson, Annette Brooke MP said:

"How can we check that these people are suitable foster parents if we don't know who they are? We need to know where each fostered child is to make sure they are properly looked after.

"This loophole needs to be closed immediately and a proper registration scheme set up.

"Private foster parents do a fantastic job in looking after some of our most vulnerable children, but the law must be tightened to prevent any child being left in a dangerous situation.

"The tragedy of Victoria Climbie mustn't be forgotten. The Government has been advised multiple times that a registration system is necessary to keep track of private foster care arrangements. Its deplorable that such action hasn't been taken."