The allowance for a baby will be 100-116 per week, rising up to Pounds 151-176 for a teenager. The measures will be introduced in April 2007 and will include 'family and friends' carers.
However, the Government's planned annual allowance for a child under five in London is still 1,032, lower than the Fostering Network's recommendation.
Robert Tapsfield, chief executive of the Fostering Network, said, 'The proposed rate will be good news for foster carers who receive very low allowances, but they will still leave thousands of carers out of pocket.'
Parliamentary under-secretary for children Parmjit Dhanda said, 'There is still significant variation (in allowances) across the country, with pockets of low payments that cannot be explained simply by regional differences in cost of living.
'We wish to see local authorities that are paying low rates increasing their payments to at least the minimum.'
To view the guidance publication, National Minimum Fostering Allowance & Fostering Payment Systems, see www. everychildmatters.gov.uk.
