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Children and Young Persons Bill [HL]

I can say how much more time we need to take a decision. That is precisely the three years we seek in the Bill. As to why we are seeking this additional time, I should make clear that we are not signalling that we have abandoned the idea of introducing registration, but that we need more time to see whether the current notification system is working. Before deciding whether to introduce a registration scheme, we need to assess fully the notification system. To do that we will need advice from the relevant experts. We will need to look not only at practices in different types of area and in authorities with high, medium and low levels of notification, but also to try to understand what prevents people in various situations notifying arrangements to their local authorities. We need to grasp the question of whether a registration scheme would encourage or deter private fosterers coming forward to the authorities. We are anxious not to deter fosterers from coming in where we need them. This will require further sophisticated research to be commissioned by the Government, and that is why we need the extra time.