The Video Ref wrote:
If parenting is so bad that the kid needs taking into care, I don't think it is unreasonable for the family in question to make some contribution to the kid's upbringing, finances permitting.
If someone has made a lifestyle choice to have a child, why should the rest of us fund that child if they have the means to do so themselves but, for whatever reason, cannot?
You need to read the small print. Parents would be charged for things like the involvement of a social worker. We have a social worker who deals with issues relating to our Autistic son. Most people in the same situation do and they don't pay for it in the same way they don't pay for other council provided services they avail themselves of other than via their contribution from their council tax.
I have never had call to consult the local council planning office. Should I object to any of my council tax going toward that? I hope the planning department will prevent nutty schemes going ahead and I also hope the social services department will take appropriate action on taking children into care not only to protect them but to protect others myself included.
The scheme is nothing other than a privatisation of a particular aspect of social care which would put the costs solely on the parents of even worse, the child. It would result in either it being profitable to take more kids into care which is a conflict of interest or it will prevent kids who need it going into care because the parents or child can't afford it.
Social service departments run by councils dealing with care issues and funded as they are is the most sensible way to organise this and any form of means tested alternative is utterly stupid.
You can see the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
