HC Deb 05 July 1979 vol 969 c723W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of keeping a child in (a) care, (b) registered voluntary home (c) foster home.

Sir George Young

The estimated average annual costs to local authorities in England in 1977–78 are as follows:

£
(a) In care—all forms 2,500
(b) Registered voluntary home 3,000
(c) Foster home 700

These figures exclude administration and field social work costs, which cannot be allocated to specific services, and no deduction has been made in respect of parental contributions. In making the calculations, the number of children on whom little or no expenditure was incurred—e.g. children in residential employment or living at home—has been excluded.