Labour Attack on Children in Care

Two months after Labour Councillors in Slough voted themselves a whopping 46% rise in their own pay the council is set to attack some of the most vulnerable children in the area by launching a massive 50% cut in the allowances paid to foster families to look after children in care.

The changes mean that the current fee of £400 introduced in 2005 will drop to £200 a week - equating to a drop of £10,000 per year.

The changes, decided by the ruling Labour cabinet before a packed public gallery at the town hall on Monday night, will hit all new foster carers. The 42 current foster families will know their financial fate after a two-month consultation period.

Speaking for Liberal Democrats Windsor Constituency, Baber Khan who is the Lib Dems' spokesman for Colnbrook with Poyle condemned the move.

"Nationally we know there are shortages of people coming forward to provide these vulnerable children with a home, we can only hope that people will still be willing to come forward to provide homes to the children even given the massive cut in the allowance."