§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children were in local authority care in the last 12 months for which figures are available in England and Wales; and what was the total cost, taking into account all related administrative and maintenance costs, etc.
§ Mr. MoyleAt 31st March 1976 there were 100,600 children in care in England and Wales. 50,600 children—excluding those in care on remand or interim care orders—went out of care during the previous 12 months. Some will have been recorded as leaving care more than once. Expenditure by local authorities in England and Wales on children in care for 1975–76 is provisionally estimated at £151 million. This figure excluded administration and field social work costs which cannot be allocated to specific services, and no account has been taken of parental contributions, which amounted to £1.8 million.