ALLOWANCES for fostered children in more than 80 per cent of North-East local authorities are below minimum acceptable levels, according to a survey published today.

All local authorities give foster carers an allowance which should cover the costs of looking after a fostered child.

But the survey of 89 local authorities throughout the country found that 56 per cent pay less than the minimum weekly allowance calculated by leading fostering charity the Fostering Network.

And the figure in the North-East is even worse, with 86 per cent paying less than the minimum.

In Yorkshire and Humberside, all the authorities surveyed paid below the accepted minimum.

The Fostering Network is urging the Government to introduce national allowances for fostered children based on the organisation's recommended rates, and to ensure that local authorities have enough money to pay these allowances.

The executive director of the Fostering Network, Gerri McAndrew, said: "This survey shows the extent to which the foster care service is underfunded in England, with allowances clearly falling below the acceptable minimum in many areas."

He added that councils were relying on the goodwill of carers to cover the shortfall.

The Fostering Network's minimum weekly allowances start at £103.67 for a baby, rising to £187.60 for a young person of 16 or older.