I READ with interest the report (LT, July 17) on the recent inspection of Lancashire Counry Council's foster care services by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI).

As a former journalist, although I appreciate the news value and legitimacy of covering this story and in seeking comment from informed local politicians, I must express my concern that your coverage seems sensationalist in nature and arguably promotes unnecessary scaremongering for readers and, most importantly, for existing and potential new foster carers.

In particular, I was disappointed that your report picked out the one national standard out of 17 on otherwise an encouraging report.

It was only in your opinion piece (page eight) that you referred to what I feel is an important point in the council not meeting just one of the 17 national standards which were tested.

Your article also fails to note that arising from the inspection were five statutory requirements and eight good practice recommendations.

In respect to the last paragraph of your articles, nowhere in my statement did I play down the "blunders."

Like any formal inspection report we are taking the findings very seriously and taking appropriate action to address the issues raised in the report as a priority.

Fostering continues to be a major part of Lancashire County Council's policy for children in care.

At any one time around 1,300 children and young people are looked after by the authority with some 900 children placed in foster care or for adoption every year.

This includes children of all ages and from different backgrounds, those with disabilities and mental health problems.

We still remain the biggest agency in the North West providing foster care and adoption services for children and young people in care.

We currently support over 650 approved foster carers, but more are needed.

It is estimated that a further 8,200 foster carers are needed in England (10,000 across the UK) and 1,700 across the North West to offer agencies greater placement choice in meeting the needs of children needing a foster home and in best matching a child with a foster carer.

With this in mind I am sure you will appreciate that importance of recruiting foster carers and ensuring positive publicity showing the difference fostering can make to a child's life and the benefits and rewards it can bring to families.

My concern is that your article will hinder our efforts to recruit more foster carers.

COUNTY COUNCILLOR MARCUS JOHNSTONE, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Lancashire County Council l Editor's Footnote: Lancashire County Council passed eight of the 17 standards, almost met another eight and failed one - "protecting children from abuse and neglect" - which many might consider to be the most important standard of all. We have frequently carried positive reports about the importance of fostering and will continue to do so, but would have been failing in our duty of informing the public if we had not highlighted such matters and the relevant concerns of the Commission for Social Care Inspection.