§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to how long social workers retain files on children under their supervision after the case has ceased to be active.
§ Mr. NewtonThe Boarding Out of Children Regulations 1955 which apply to children in care who are placed with foster parents require that case records kept by local authorities and voluntary organisations must be preserved for at least three years after the child has attained the age of 18 or has died before attaining that age. The register kept by local authorities recording particulars of570W children boarded out in their area must be preserved for at least five years after the child has or would have attained the age of 18. The Adoption Agency Regulations 1976 require a local authority acting as an adoption agency to preserve relevant records for at least 75 years. Information on the period for retention of other records which are not subject to statutory control is not held centrally. It is a matter for each local authority to determine with appropriate legal advice.