REFORM OF THE CARE SYSTEM

Early day motion 1485, tabled 30 June 1998 by Hilton Dawson (Labour). Signed by 50 members.

That this House believes that children in care should be valued and supported to ensure that they have the life chances and opportunities commonly available to young people; regards the forthcoming Ministerial response to Sir William Utting's report, People Like Us, as an historic opportunity to rebuild a care system which at times has caused general shame; and looks forward to the greater involvement of young people in planning and managing services, to effective leadership setting high standards for all, to significant new investment in residential social work, foster care and adoption and to the creation of a leaving care service which will ensure that young people can be helped through all the difficult years of early adulthood rather than being left to founder alone.

Signatures by party: Labour 34, Liberal Democrat 12, UUP 2, Conservative 1, Labour/Co-operative 1.