If the launch of the Care Matters green paper last week proved anything, it was that the Government is committed to dealing with the problems faced by children and young people in care.
And, by its own admission, it needs to be. Only 11 per cent of young people in care got five GCSEs at grade C or above in 2005, compared with 56 per cent of the general population, and they are drastically over-represented in the criminal justice system, teenage pregnancy figures, and other indicators of disadvantage.
The green paper is the first step towards improving the situation, and groups working with looked-after children have been generally positive. Even the Government's political opponents are reasonably pleased with it.
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