§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children were taken into care in 1975 in England; and what is the ratio of this figure to the total population.
§ Dr. OwenThere were some 49,100 admissions to the care of local authorities in England during the year ending 31st March 1975, a rate of 3.8 per thousand of the population aged under 18. The figure excludes children solely on remand, committed for trial or sentence, detained in care, or subject to an interim care order. It is not known how many children were admitted on more than one occasion. Further information about children in care is contained in the Department of Health and Social Security booklet "Children in Care of Local Authorities—Year ending 31st March 1975—England" reference number A/F75/12, a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library.