§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of looked-after children educated in care homes with education have been diagnosed with(a) psychiatric and (b) emotional and behaviour problems, (i) currently, and (ii) in the last three years. [59209]
§ Mr. HuttonInformation is collected centrally on the anonymised care histories of children who are looked after. Although this includes placement information, it does not record details of the child's medical or psychiatric history.
A national survey of the mental health of children is being conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and will collect data in the Spring of 1999. The ONS are also to undertake a feasibility study in 1999 to determine whether a similar survey can be conducted focusing on "looked after" children as a separate group.