Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what evidence was produced by the Narey Review of Foster Care to support the recommendation to abolish the Independent Reviewing Office.

Sir Martin Narey and Mark Owers produced the report as independent reviewers. They drew on evidence from a range of sources, including an open call for evidence, an analysis of existing and new data, an evidence review produced by Kings College London and commissioned research into cost drivers in fostering services. They also held visits and meetings with children and young people, foster parents, local authority officials, independent fostering agencies, academics, charities, and other representative organisations and groups. The Office of the Children’s Commissioner designed a survey for children and young people, which received 100 responses.

I am committed to ensuring that foster parents, and the children that they care for, receive the support they need and have access to independent, appropriate advice. We are carefully considering all the review’s recommendations to ensure that both foster parents and children receive the support they need.