An SNP MP has criticised the UK Government for deciding against making care experience a protected characteristic.

Dundee West MP Chris Law, who is a care leaver, said he was “disappointed” that the UK Government had decided against taking up the recommendation.

It is against the law to discriminate against someone for having a protected characteristic.

The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care recommended that the “Government should make care experience a protected characteristic, following consultation with care experienced people and the Devolved Administrations.”

The review was commissioned by the UK Government and was published in May.

But the Government said in its response to the review on Thursday that they “will not be taking forward this recommendation at this time”.

It said that “there are significant concerns in the sector that self-declaration of care experience could increase stigma”.

The Government said that it “will prioritise our proposals to extend corporate parenting responsibilities, which we believe will be more impactful in driving real change in the way in which policies and services are designed and delivered to take account of the challenges that care leavers face.”

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