Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Hansard, 22 January 1997)

§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make it his policy to ensure that every child moved from one foster home to another more than three times should be assessed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; and if he will make a statement. [11532]

(2) what recent evidence he has evaluated in respect of the number of times children in care are moved; if he will make it his policy to require all social service departments to incorporate a full assessment for attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder by a specially qualified medical practitioner into the social services' own assessment as to whether a child should enter care; and if he will make a statement. [11507]

§ Mr. Burns

The criteria for taking children into care is set out in sections 20 and 31 of the Children Act 1989.

Local authorities have responsibilities and duties under the Children Act to arrange placement for children looked after which will promote and safeguard their welfare. In order to achieve this, authorities must undertake a full assessment of children's needs, including health needs, and match them to appropriate placements. The assessment should, when appropriate, be in collaboration with other agencies. It is for local authorities to monitor the number of times children are moved because of placement breakdown.

Number of residents in residential and nursing homes and total expenditure by local authorities
	(a)Independent sector nursing homes¹	(b)Independent sector residential homes¹	(c)Local authority residential homes
Total number of residents², at 31 March 1996	123,600	228,600	64,200
Gross current expenditure by local authorities in England, 1994–95	£371 million	£507 million	£824 million
Local authority gross current expenditure per week for older people per supported residents², 1994–95	£231	£246	£283
Notes:
¹Information on expenditure on independent sector residential care homes is not broken down between private and voluntary homes.
²Residents in staffed homes only.

Source:

Department of Health annual statistical returns.