Member

Many young people in care are neither emotionally nor psychologically prepared for independent living at 18. It is surely right that, if at all possible, they should have a safe family home to stay in or fall back on, just as their non-care-experienced peers have. I ask my noble friend the Minister to accept the need for a national minimum allowance for foster carers caring for young people who are over 18 through Staying Put arrangements at the same allowance rate as currently exist for 16 and 17 year-olds. This would ensure that no young person has to claim benefits or pay their foster carers to remain living with them beyond the age of 18. It would prevent the postcode lottery to which I referred and would allow more young people to stay with their foster families until the age of 21.