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Government minister to address adoption and fostering charity AGM

Issued: 11 November 04

Lord Filkin, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families, will this afternoon address the AGM of the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF). BAAF's AGM takes place at a crucial time for children in public care:

• It follows last week's most successful ever National Adoption Week where thousands of people came forward to find out more about adopting a child as a result of BAAF's campaign in the press, on television and on the internet.
• After a hard fought campaign from BAAF, the government has now accepted the case for a minimum national fostering allowance to ensure that no foster carer will be out of pocket for the costs of caring for a child.

Lord Filkin will talk about his new responsibilities for adoption and fostering policy and how more can be achieved for looked after children. In particular he is expected to describe the "new deal for fostering" and progress in achieving the government's adoption reform programme.

Felicity Collier, chief executive of BAAF said " Everyone working for children in public care is expecting a much better deal for children from the new legislation on adoption and fostering. I hope Lord Filkin will convince us that the government will make the necessary investment to make a real difference."

Ends

Contact:

Lucy Handford in the Media Office on 020 7593 2054.

Notes to Editor

• The British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) is the UK's leading adoption and fostering charity. For more information visit www.baaf.org.uk
• There are 78,500 children in public care in the UK. 4,000 children are waiting for new families to adopt them.
• Every local authority and health and social services trust with social service responsibilities, every voluntary adoption agency and over 80% of independent fostering providers in the UK are BAAF members.
• Lord Filkin will speak at 5.15pm on Thursday 11 November 2004 at Woburn House Conference Centre, 20 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HQ.