Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the average cost per week of a child placed by a social services department of a local authority in (a) a home run by the local authority and (b) a private house;
(2) how many children, currently in the care of local authority social services departments are placed in (a) homes run by the local authority and (b) homes which are privately run.
§ Mr. NewtonThe number of children in care in England on 31 March 1980, the latest date for which figures are available, who are accommodated in community homes provided or controlled by local authorities was 25,900. This number excludes children accommodated in assisted community homes. The average weekly cost to local authorities for each child in 1979–80 was £136. This figure includes running costs and capital charges before deduction of parental contributions and excludes associated administrative and field social work costs.
Children who are placed by local authorities in privately run homes cannot be separately identified.