§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what study his Department has made of the relationship between homelessness and the reception of children into care.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe Department has a continuing active programme of research into child care matters. Research into the possible links between homelessness, bad housing and reception of children into care has to be considered in the light of competing demands for limited resources. A study by Dr. Packman of Exeter university just completed included amongst other variables the housing situation of a sample of children entering care and of children considered for care but not received at that time. There are no plans for additional research in this area at present.