§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services which local authorities have fostering schemes for adults with special needs; how many (a) physically handicapped, (b) mentally handicapped, (c) mentally ill and (d) elderly people have been placed with families through these schemes; and what information he has as to where these people were living prior to being fostered.
§ Mr. John PattenThe only information available centrally indicates that at 31 March 1983, 630 mentally handicapped and 525 mentally ill adults were lodging in private households with the cost of their accommodation being wholly or partly met by a local authority. We have no information about where these people were previously living; nor is comparable information available for physically handicapped or elderly people.
In 1982 a survey of local authority boarding out schemes for adults in England was undertaken for the Association of Directors of Social Services. The right hon. Member may like to contact the association for further information.