consistently well balanced and objective responses have been supplied to WAG from the vast majority of those in the independent residential child care industry, both fostering and residential. The government has dogmatically chosen to ignore concerns and possible alternative solutions to the aims set by WAG. As such, the whole child residential care (including fostering) services across Wales will be left with the consequences of this legislation as it currently stands.

I think that this is sadly, likely to be a case of ‘closing the door after horse has bolted’, scenario, with already stretched LA’s being unable to meet the demands for placements for already seriously damaged children, something which the Independent Sector has developed specific and much needed expertise around. As far as I am aware, very little notice has been given to the amount of financial and time investment required for LA’s to replicate these services, despite LA’s voicing their concerns.

The CHA figure for costing private versus LA costs of children’s home placements per week, has not been taken account of, neither have similar costings for children requiring specialist therapeutic and trauma informed fostering placements.

Therefore, I predict that it will take many years for the results of this Bill to become evident in real terms, by which time many, many Welsh children could have suffered significantly as a direct result of this Bill not being thought through realistically. . I despair about the practical reality of taking this Bill forward, as it is and hope that someone in Welsh Government will see sense and make the necessary adjustments to take account of both the Private and LA Sector concerns.

I am wholeheartedly in favour of the proper management and accountability around the spending of public funds, but in my opinion, there are much better and easier to manage, ways of overseeing that there is no so called ‘profiteering’ occurring with children’s placements across the board.

Why are they making profit from the care system?

Cloud cuckoo land. Do the ministers realise how many billions this will cost?