§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children and young persons are now in community homes; and how many juveniles under a case order are awaiting a placement.
§ Sir K. JosephThe latest available figures, which are provisional, showing how boys and girls in the care of local authorities in England and Wales were accommodated are for 31st March 1973, that is, before the community home system came into operation. 29,445 such children and young persons were then accommodated in establishments of the types which have since become community homes, namely approved schools, remand homes, and local authority children's homes.
At 30th September 1973 those particular community homes which corresponded to former approved schools, and the approved schools then still temporarily administered as such, together comprising 121 establishments, accommodated 5,521 boys and 890 girls.
60WThe local authority returns furnished to the Department do not distinguish, among the children accommodated otherwise than in community homes, those who are awaiting placement in such homes.