HL Deb 21 November 2002 vol 641 cc10-1WA
Baroness Howe of Idlicote

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the average cost for each disabled child in residential care; and what is the average cost of the financial and physical support given by local authorities and health authorities for each disabled child living with their parents. [HL9]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)

The average cost to social services of each disabled child in residential care during the Children in Need Census survey week in September/October 2001, excluding those who receive only planned short-term breaks, was £1,400. The average cost to social services of each disabled child supported in their family or independently during a survey week in September/October 2001 was £130.

Data on the health cost of supporting disabled children are not collected centrally.

Baroness Howe of Idlicote

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which 10 local authority and National Health Service areas provide the most help (financial and physical) to disabled children living at home; and which 10 local authority and National Health Service areas provide the least support. [HL11]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

The Children in Need 2001 Census shows that 10 local authorities supporting the largest number of disabled children in their families or independently are:

1. Hertfordshire 460
2. Essex 455
3. Cornwall 420
4. Lancashire 400
5. Liverpool 385
6. Nottinghamshire 385
7. Bradford 370
8. Derbyshire 360
9. Leeds 355
10. = Wirral 325
10. = Devon 325

The census shows that 10 local authorities supporting the fewest number of disabled children in their families or independently are:

1. = City of London fewer than five
1. = Greenwich fewer than five
3. Derby 5
4. = North-East Lincolnshire 10
4. = Greenwich 10
6. = Halton 15
6. = Merton 15
8. Rutland 20
9. Warrington 25
10. Barking & Dagenham 30

Four local authorities show a return of zero (Kingston upon Hull, Thurrock, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham), which is likely to be due to poor data quality. Statistical data of support given by the National Health Service are not collected centrally.