§ Mr. Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the average cost per week of children in need of care and protection and referred to local authorities as fit persons when placed in institutions and boarded out, respectively.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeChildren committed by a court to the care of local authorities as fit persons are provided for in the same way as other children in care, and separate figures of cost are not available for those who are the subject of a court order. According to the local authority preliminary estimates for 1953–54, the estimated average weekly cost of maintaining a child in a local authority children's home is £5 14s. 2d., and in a foster home £1 10s. 7d.