HC Deb 14 May 1976 vol 911 cc315-6W
Mr. Sims

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is yet in a position to complete his answer to the Question asked by the hon. Member for Chislehurst on 12th April by stating how many places there were in community homes on 1st April 1976; and how many of these places were designated as being secure.

Dr. Owen

I regret that full information about the changes that have been made in the number of places in community homes since 1st April 1975 is still not available, but, on the basis of the regional plans as they stand, there were 42,100 places in community homes in England and Wales on 1st April 1976 of which 199 were secure.

The net increase of 300 places is not directly comparable with that of 1,800 for the previous year which included some 1,600 existing places in former approved schools and voluntary children's homes which came into the community home system for the first time that year. Nor are the figures for secure places comparable, since that for 1st April 1975 was based on a review of the regional plans while that for 1st April 1976 is the result of a physical inspection by officers of the Department.