§ Mr. Litterickasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report an analysis of the causes of death of the 129 children who died while in the care of local authorities in England durng 1975–76, together with a comparative analysis of the causes of death among the child population of the same age group during that year and the figures showing the death rate per thousand for each group.
§ Mr. MoyleStatistics of the causes of death of children in the care of local authorities are not collected centrally, there being no statutory requirement for local authorities to provide this information. The death rate of children in care during the year ending 31st March 1976 was 1.4 per thousand and the death rate of all children under age 18 in England was 1.1 per thousand. These rates are not directly comparable because the age structure and background of children in care differ from those of children under 18 in the community.