FAMILY and friends acting as foster carers in Huddersfield are to get payments owed for several years.

But the move has been criticised by a lawyer who fought for more cash.

Nigel Priestley, of Huddersfield firm Ridley and Hall solicitors, sought a 2002 High Court ruling which has led to the payments.

The firm has been locked in legal battles with Kirklees Council over payments for foster carers.

Mr Priestley has criticised the council's decision to backdate payments only to 2001.

He said: "Kirklees appears to be trying to short-change carers to accept less back-payment by fixing September, 2001, as the date.

"What happens to families who fostered children before then?

"Relatives and friends do a magnificent job and shouldn't be sold short."

Mr Priestley advised family and friend foster carers to seek legal advice about their entitlements.

Until April last year, relatives and friends acting as foster carers received less money than "stranger" foster carers employed by Kirklees.

Many family foster carers were classed as short-term, so were denied the full fostering allowance.

They were also denied an extra fee for long-term fostering of children aged eight and over, which was paid to "stranger" carers.

Last April, payments for family and friend carers were made equal to those of stranger carers.

But many are still upset about the cash they had been denied in the past.

Now, Kirklees has agreed to pay family and friend carers the difference between their low rate and the higher rate paid to stranger carers. These payments will be made for the period from September 29, 2001, to April 1, 2003.

Family and friend carers who fostered children aged eight and over between September 29, 2001, and April 1 this year will receive cash equal to the amount of long-term fostering fees they should have received between these dates.

A Kirklees spokesman said all the backdated payments would be made at the rate which applied at the time.

He added: "These payments recognise that there were inequalities."

ALTHOUGH the row over back-payments continues, Kirklees Council is confident that a system introduced last month will make sure there are no similar problems in the future.

After a review of the old system, the council abolished the difference in pay rates between long-term and short-term carers.

The two-tier system of a high and low payment rates has also been scrapped.

Now, family and friend carers get the same rate as stranger carers.

Also, both groups receive an increased rate of pay, equalling that recommended by the national Fostering Network.

Rates of pay are now decided according to the age of the child and the skills of the carer.

If a carer goes on a skills enhancement course, he or she can receive increased allowance.

Kirklees spokesman Phil Tomlinson said: "We believe the system is fair and equitable to all carers."