§ Mr. Carol Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the weekly payments made by every county and county borough in respect of children put into care of foster-parents, and the different age groups into which such children are divided.
§ Mr. AlisonI regret that the precise information requested by the hon. Member is not available. Local authority boarding-out allowances vary in accordance with a child's individual needs, as well as taking account of age. The estimated average cost for all local authorities in England of a child in care of foster-parents was about £5 a week in 1972–73. The Local Health and Social Services Statistics for 1971–72 published jointly by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and the Society of County Treasurers shows the "Cost per child week boarded out" for each county and county borough but does not provide a breakdown by age.