§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children were in care in Staffordshire in the years 1975 to 1979; how many there are in the current year as far as figures are available; and what were the rates of children in care per 1,000 of the population under the age of 18 years on the same figures.
§ Sir George Young[pursuant to his reply, 13 November 1980, c. 433]:
Children in Care: Staffordshire Year ending 31 March Total children in care Number of children in care per 1,000 of estimated population under age 18 years 1975 1,579 5.4 1976 1,589 5.5 1977 1,616 5.6 1978 1,527 5.5 1979 1,500* *5.5 *Provisional No figures are yet available for 1980.
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Regional Medical Services Year June Sickness Referred Benefit Spells Commencing Cases Referred Number examined and found capable of some form of work Number % of Col. 1 Number % of Col. 1 1979 10.489,700 674,104 6.43 81,592 0.78 1978 9,981,600 665,887 6.67 85,483 0.86 1977 9,181,600 653,820 7.12 83,031 0.90 1976 Not available 660,184 - 79,754 - 1975 8,945,160 637,844 7.13 75,468 0.84 1974 9,256,480 604.962 6.54 69.128 0.75 1973 9,360,240 600,292 6.41 68,773 0.73 1972 8,400,040 615,935 7.33 73,863 0.88 1971(a) 8,613,480 526,575 6.11 57,890 0.67 NOTES
(a) Invalidity benefit was introduced from 23 September 1971.
(b) Claimants found to be capable of some form of work will not necessarily have lost title to benefit. That question is for determination by the independent statutory authorities and no statistics are kept of claimants who have been disallowed benefit following examination by a Regional Medical Officer.
(c) All references to the Regional Medical Services do not necessarily result in an actual examination.