Mark Sewards

Mark Sewards

Labour — Leeds South West and Morley

Speaking in the House of Commons on 18 December 2025

Debate

Business of the House

Contribution

Merry Christmas to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and to all the House staff, everybody here and everybody who is not. When asked to become a kinship carer for seven children, in addition to already having two of her own, my constituent and her partner stepped up because those seven children were being neglected. She was then told by social services, who had asked her to take the children on, that she was not entitled to kinship carer allowance, a decision it then changed months later but which left the family in dire financial straits. They are still waiting for back payments even now. They have used all their savings and now they are reliant on food banks. I am working on this case, but in the meantime will the Leader of the House grant an urgent debate on the need to ensure that those who step up to be kinship carers get the support they deserve?

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