VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Foster Care: Registration

Asked by Neil CoyleLabourDepartment for EducationTabled Answered 30 March 2026UIN 122521

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of establishing a national register for foster parents.

Answered by Josh MacAlister

Fostering services are required to maintain their own records and registers of approved foster carers in line with the National Minimum Standards and associated regulations.

We recently published the ‘Renewing Fostering: Homes for 10,000 More Children’ action plan which sets out our ambitious plans to strengthen fostering. At the same time, we launched a call for evidence, which sought views on how to improve the foster care system, including questions on a national fostering register.

We are currently analysing the responses to this call for evidence. These insights will help us consider the potential merits, benefits and practical implications of introducing a national register for foster carers as part of future policy development.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim