§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the total cost per child in residential homes for children which come under the jurisdiction of his Department; how many such homes there are; how many children are in these homes; and what is the annual cost to the taxpayer.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeAccording to local authorities' revised estimates for 1952–53, the weekly estimated cost per child in residential homes and nurseries provided under the Children Act, 1948, is £5 7s. 3d. There are 998 establishments; the number of children is estimated at just under 28,000. The total estimated annual cost is £7,736,000 of which half is met from Exchequer funds.