§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what cash payments were made in England and Wales under Section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1963, in 1976–77; and what is the budgeted amount for 1977–78.
§ Mr. MoyleExpenditure under Section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1963 is not separately identified in the financial returns received from local authorities. However, these returns show that expenditure in England and Wales on preventive and supportive services, which is largely financial assistance under this section, was £4.3 million —provisional—in 1976–77. This is lower by £1.2 million than the figure of £5.5 million for 1975–76 which is known to have included £2.1 million for the provision of bed and breakfast accommodation for the homeless, responsibility for which has been largely transferred to housing departments. Information on budgeted amounts for 1977–78 is not collected centrally.