Edward Timpson appointed minister for children in care

Timpson, who is MP for Crewe and Nantwich, is chair of the all-party parliamentary groups (APPG) on both looked-after children and care leavers and adoption and fostering, and vice chair of the APPG for runaway and missing children.

Until his election in 2008, he practised as a family law barrister, specialising in the cases of vulnerable children. He is patron of the charity Home Start, has two adopted younger brothers and his parents have fostered almost 90 children.

A report published earlier this week by the looked-after children and care leavers APPG suggested that schools should receive a “pupil premium plus” of more than £1,000 in additional funding for every child in care that they teach.

Launching the report, Timpson said: "Education can be a lifeline for looked-after children. The pupil premium plus would be a well-targeted way to get extra resources directly to the children and really make a difference.

“It is a practical acknowledgement of the deeper-rooted problems children in care have in education and a demonstration of our commitment to help them fulfil their potential.”

Former children’s minister Tim Loughton sent Timpson a message of congratulations on his appointment through the social networking site Twitter. “He has great experience and empathy with children in care,” Loughton said.

Edward is the son of John Timpson, chief executive of the Timpson chain of key-cutting and shoe-repair shops.