GOVERNMENT should pay for care leavers’ council tax, prescriptions, NHS dental treatment and optician costs until they are 25, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said.

A nationally government-funded exemption would ensure the more than 11,000 young people become care leavers each year are properly supported by councils, it said.

“Councils continue to face rising costs in children’s social care, which impacts their ability to provide vital support to children and young people and address rising need,” the LGA said.