Dave : "The cause of the shortage is political ".

Disagree. The shortage is because most parents know that foster care is a very difficult task in many cases. I never even considered it, as I lack the necessary skills, and would have feared the possible harm to my own children. Children needing fostering are often badly damaged, and their behaviour can be almost intolerable.

It's not surprising that there is a shortage, and that only strongly- motivated people will apply to do it. It's the job of the agencies to decide whether that motivation is truly parental love, or whether other motivations like financial gain or sexual predation are involved.