{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/768723.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":768723,"attributes":{"action":"Non means tested Legal Aid for foster carers challenging Council's care plans","background":"Provide non-means-tested Legal Aid for foster carers challenging Local Authority care plans through court orders (Adoption/SGO). Carers shouldn't face financial ruin to protect a child's welfare. We need a level playing field to ensure the child’s best interests are always the priority in court.","additional_details":"Authorities have substantial funds for care plans, but foster carers must self-fund challenges, costing tens of thousands. Foster carers have successfully challenged local authority care plans in court because they were not in the best interests of the child, but this can cost tens of thousands of pounds. We believe the current system silences carers via legal costs. We must remove means-testing to ensure justice isn't dependent on a carer's bank balance.","committee_note":"","state":"open","signature_count":17,"closing_date":"2026-11-29","created_at":"2026-04-30T09:52:50.809Z","updated_at":"2026-06-21T13:25:50.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-05-29T09:39:32.323Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-04-30T11:28:30.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":"Mr Solomon Asmerom","rejection":null,"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"MoJ","name":"Ministry of Justice","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice"}],"topics":[],"signatures_by_country":[{"name":"United Kingdom","code":"GB","signature_count":17}],"signatures_by_constituency":[{"name":"Aylesbury","ons_code":"E14001071","mp":"Laura Kyrke-Smith MP","signature_count":3},{"name":"Brentford and Isleworth","ons_code":"E14001124","mp":"Ruth Cadbury MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Croydon West","ons_code":"E14001188","mp":"Sarah Jones MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Ealing Central and Acton","ons_code":"E14001207","mp":"Dr Rupa Huq MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Ealing North","ons_code":"E14001208","mp":"Rt Hon James Murray MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Ealing Southall","ons_code":"E14001209","mp":"Deirdre Costigan MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Wiltshire","ons_code":"E14001217","mp":"Danny Kruger MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Kensington and Bayswater","ons_code":"E14001310","mp":"Joe Powell MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Queen's Park and Maida Vale","ons_code":"E14001435","mp":"Georgia Gould MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Runnymede and Weybridge","ons_code":"E14001456","mp":"Dr Ben Spencer MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Stretford and Urmston","ons_code":"E14001528","mp":"Andrew Western MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Swindon South","ons_code":"E14001537","mp":"Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP","signature_count":1}],"signatures_by_region":[{"name":"North West","ons_code":"B","signature_count":1},{"name":"London","ons_code":"H","signature_count":10},{"name":"South East","ons_code":"J","signature_count":4},{"name":"South West","ons_code":"K","signature_count":2}],"other_parliamentary_business":[]}}}