§ 25. Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total amount of capital expenditure on residential children's establishments in each of the last five years; and what was the average cost for each type and size of building.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Elystan Morgan)As the Answer contains 724 figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
The nature of the work and the types and sizes of the establishments varied so greatly that it is impracticable to give average costs.
§ Mr. MoonmanWould my hon. Friend confirm that there are wide variations in costs of buildings catering for similar numbers? Would he give increasing support to those schemes which are promising?
§ Mr. MorganMy hon. Friend has not had a sight of the figures. In 1963–64, the total spent was £3.65 million. In 1967–68, it was £4.6 million. The work done includes new construction and adaptations of the whole or parts of establishments ranging from small family houses providing a few places to approved schools housing 100 or more.
§ Mr. HoggI have almost forgotten what I proposed to ask. The Question was limited to capital projects. Will the hon. Gentleman tell us when we may have news of his right hon. Friend's general plans on child care?
§ Mr. MorganThat question, however welcome, goes rather wider than the original Question. If the right hon. and learned Gentleman tables a Question on that point, he will get an answer.
§ Following is the information:
| EXPENDITURE ON APPROVED SCHOOLS, REMAND HOMES AND CHILDREN'S HOMES IN ENGLAND AND WALES | ||||
| 1963–64 | 1964–65 | 1965–66 | 1966–67 | 1967–68 |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| 3,651,000 | 3,937,000 | 3,293,000 | 3,045,000 | 4,602,000 |