Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the final report of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, published in May 2022, what estimate her Department has made of the potential savings to the public purse of the recommendation to provide a financial allowance to all (a) special guardians and (b) kinship carers with a child arrangements order.

As part of the commitment outlined in 'Stable Homes Built on Love,' the department is exploring the feasibility of introducing a new financial allowance for kinship carers with a special guardianship order or child arrangements order. Further details will be shared in due course.

The department is in the final stages of drafting its kinship strategy, which outlines plans to enhance support for all kinship families in England. This strategy will complement the existing support initiatives offered by the department, such as the peer-to-peer support service and the upcoming training and support programme set to launch next year.