§ LORD HYLTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
- (i) How many children were in the care of local authorities, at the most recent count, because their parents were homeless or living in totally unsatisfactory housing conditions; and whether they will give separate figures for each city and county;
- (ii) What is the current weekly cost of keeping a child "in care";
- (iii) What is the estimated total annual cost of the children in care because of homelessness and bad housing;
- (iv) Whether it is a fact that going "into care" causes stress and strain for children and may impair their mental and emotional development.
THE MINISTER oF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY (LORD ABERDARE):
(i) I regret that this information could not be obtained without special inquiry, but I am sending my noble friend some tables which may be of help. Table I gives a provisional figure of 6,510 children recorded by local authorities in England and Wales as having come into care in the 12 months ending March 31 1972 in the circumstances described; the returns made by local authorities do not show what other factors may have been present in these cases. Table II gives the figure of 766 children recorded by local authorities in Scotland as having come into care in the 12 months ending March 31 1971 because of homelessness.
(ii) In the year ending March 31, 1971 (the latest date for which figures 1195WA are available), the average weekly cost to a local authority in England and Wales was £10.11.
(iii) I regret that, since the length of stay in care of these children is not known, no estimate is possible.
1196WA(iv) There is a risk of stress, which has to be taken into account, together with other factors, in good child care practice.
House adjourned at eight minutes past eight o'clock.