§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many foster placements of children in care have been made for periods of six months or more for each year from 1975 up to the last year for which figures are available; and how many of these in each year have subsequently broken down.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergInformation is not available in the form requested. The total number of children in care in England and Wales who were boarded out with foster parents on 31 March for the years in question were:
Number of children boarded out Year thousands 1975 31.9 1976 33.1 1977 34.0 1978 34.7 1979 35.9 1980 36.9 Information on placements which have subsequently broken down is not collected centrally.