§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in the latest year for which figures are available, how many social workers there were, how many children were in residential care, and how many children were boarded out and how many were adopted or fostered.
§ Mr. NewtonThere were 22,950 whole time equivalent qualified and unqualified social workers employed by local authority social services departments on 31 September 1981. This does not include directing and managerial grades—a further 3,838.
On 31 March 1981, the number of children in the care of local authorities who were accommodated in community homes, provided, controlled and assisted by local authorities, voluntary homes, residential nurseries and accommodation for handicapped children was 32,277. The number of children in care who were boarded out with foster parents was 35,749.
The number of adoption orders made in the year ended 31 March 1981 was 9,600. The number of privately fostered children known to local authorities on 31 March 1981 was 4,174.
All figures are for England.