To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the number of grandparents and other family members in England who are (a) family and friends carers but not foster carers and (b) family and friends foster carers.

One of the key principles of the Children Act 1989 is that children should be cared for by their families where this is consistent with the child's welfare.

Where a child needs to be looked after by the state, local authorities are required to consider the potential benefits of a placement with family and friends before all other options. A family or friend who has a child placed with them by the local authority must become an approved foster carer. The number of foster carers who are related to the child placed with them is not collected centrally. However, information collected in the SSDA903 return from local authorities shows that the number of looked after children at 31 March 2008 in a foster placement with a relative or friend is 6,900.

Family and friends caring for children who are not looked after by the state are a very broad group. Some will be caring for the child as a private family arrangement with the child's parents, where state Intervention will not necessarily be appropriate and the child and their carers may not be known to the local authority.

If a child being cared for by a family or friend is assessed as being in need, the local authority may provide support under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 ("the Act") in order to promote their upbringing by their family. The number of families receiving support under section 17 of the Act is not collected centrally.