HC Deb 18 December 1979 vol 976 cc153-4W
Mr. Emery

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the gross cost per annum of keeping a girl at the Farringdon House school; how this compares with the national average cost of keeping a girl at a similar girls' reform school, at a comprehensive school and at the most expensive State boarding school; and what are the reasons for this level of expenditure.

Sir George Young

About£12,000 depending on occupancy. Farringdon House CHE—community home with edu- equivalent, for people over retirement age in 1949 and each subsequent year and the proportion of gross national product each figure represents.

Mr. Prentice

Subject to the provision in the footnote regarding supplementary benefit the figures required are as follows:

cation on the premises—caters for girls with particular difficulties and problems requiring higher staffing ratios and more special facilities than are used in normal educational establishments and other types of community home. Figures for average costs of CHEs are not available. The average annual cost for all community homes was£4,800 per child in 1977–78. School costs are for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.