FOSTER CARE FORTNIGHT

That this House welcomes Foster Care Fortnight and congratulates The Fostering Network for its work in organising the event; recognises the excellent and invaluable work of foster carers and acknowledges that they act as an army of volunteers that care for society's most vulnerable children; notes that there is a current shortage of over 10,000 foster carers in the UK, which must be addressed; and urges the Government to ensure that the White Paper on Looked after Children, expected later this year, tackles the recruitment, retention, and status of foster carers.