In a members’ debate at the Scottish Parliament yesterday, Labour MSP Kezia Dugdale argued that the barrier is preventing people who would otherwise be suitable for fostering from being allowed to apply.

The former party leader requested that families should not be ruled out of fostering at the first stage due to their living situation, but that they should be able to work towards more suitable accommodation before they take on a placement.

Taking to Twitter yesterday, Ms Dugdale wrote: “The change I’m looking for is that people who apply to be foster carers, a process which takes 18 months, should be asked to make a commitment to live in a suitable house before they take on their first placement.”

She added: “I’d go as far as to give them extra cash to move because look at what we’re spending on the alternative. It can cost up to £6k a week to house a child in secure care. A fraction of that would help a foster carer suitably house a young person.”

The debate, set during Foster Care Fortnight, comes after The Fostering Network released figures which show there is an ongoing need for thousands more foster families across the UK.

According to the charity, there are about 4,000 foster families looking after 5158 children in Scotland but that is 580 short of what is required this year.

Sara Lurie, director of The Fostering Network in Scotland, said: “We know that size of housing is a challenge, both for existing foster carers who would like to foster more children and for potential foster carers. However, we would have significant concerns about removing the requirement for those applying to foster to have a spare room because the experiences of children prior to coming into care means that having their own bedroom, privacy and personal space will be very important. The impact on the birth children of foster carers sharing a room also needs to be taken into account.

“We are also concerned, however, that some people who would make excellent foster carers are being prevented from pursuing their application because they do not have a spare room. Fostering services should be encouraged to take a creative approach to how someone who would make a fantastic foster carer can be supported to live in accommodation with a spare room. This may for example involve moving people who are currently living in council housing to a larger property or, subject to the person being approved as a foster carer, agreeing to pay for an extension. These options are good financially if the person fosters for a number of years, but also will enable more people to consider fostering.”