The Bill proposes to amend the 1989 Children Act so councils can provide more financial support to kinship carers.
David Holmes, chief executive of the British Association for Adoption & Fostering, said the change was important. "The Bill attempts to remove some of the barriers to kinship care. It's a real attempt to try and improve support and to value the role kinship carers play," he said.
The Bill will make it easier for relatives to apply to become legally responsible for a child and allow them to maintain responsibility until the child's 18th birthday rather than the present age of 16. The legislation will also make it clear that children placed by local authorities with family or friends retain looked-after children status.
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