§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what latest estimate he has made of the average cost of keeping a child in local authority care.
§ Mr. MoyleThe latest available information relates to 1975–76, when the average weekly cost was £32. This figure excludes administration and field social work costs, which cannot be allocated to specific services, and no account has been taken of parental contributions. In making this calculation, the number of children on whom little or no expenditure was incurred, for example, children living at home, has been excluded.