Children's Homes (Hansard, 12 July 1994)

§ Ms Coffey
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will give details of the further studies to be undertaken by the social services inspectorate into the placement of children in homes unregistrable under the Children Act 1989;
(2) if she will publish the results of the further studies to be undertaken by the social services inspectorate into the placement of children in homes unregistrable under the Children Act 1989.

§ Mr. Bowis
In the light of the social services inspectorate study of the provision of small unregistered children's homes in the north-west of England, published in February, a further study of a wider sample of local authority social services departments' practice is being undertaken. The aims of the study include the establishment of a national data base and a review of the application and understanding of the relevant regulations made under the Children Act.

§ Ms Coffey
To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what period of time a child can be placed in a home registrable under the Children Act 1989, but whose application has not been granted; and what regulations govern the placement.

§ Mr. Bowis
An application for registration as a registered children's home which has not been granted or refused within 12 months is, under paragraph 1(9) of schedule 6 of the Children Act 1989, deemed to have been refused by the local authority. The placement of a child by a local authority in an establishment awaiting decision on an application for registration is governed by the Arrangements for Placement of Children (General)

Number of places as at 31 March:

1990 1991 1992 1993

National Health Service beds¹ 73,000 68,300 62,700 59,600

Private nursing homes² 89,600 109,000 124,000 144,300

Local authority residential homes³ 103,600 96,100 85,000 75,400

Private residential homes³ 144,700 154,500 158,200 161,400

¹Source KH03 returns, geriatric beds and beds for elderly mentally ill people.

²Source K036 returns, general specialty, elderly people.

³Source RAC5 returns, homes whose primary purpose is the care of elderly or elderly mentally ill people.

	Number of places as at 31 March:
	1990	1991	1992	1993
National Health Service beds¹	73,000	68,300	62,700	59,600
Private nursing homes²	89,600	109,000	124,000	144,300
Local authority residential homes³	103,600	96,100	85,000	75,400
Private residential homes³	144,700	154,500	158,200	161,400
¹Source KH03 returns, geriatric beds and beds for elderly mentally ill people.
²Source K036 returns, general specialty, elderly people.
³Source RAC5 returns, homes whose primary purpose is the care of elderly or elderly mentally ill people.