§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has as to the number of foster care placements by each London borough which are outside the boundaries of those boroughs; and whether any local authorities have reported to him any difficulties in recruiting foster carers.
§ Mr. MellorThe latest available information is as follows:
Children in care at 31 March 19871 boarded out by London authorities in the area of other authorities who were not boarded out with a relative or friend and were not living in a relative's household Local authority Number3 Camden 137 Greenwich 49 Hackney 204 Hammersmith and Fulham 103 Islington2 — Kensington and Chelsea 75 Lambeth 244 Lewisham2 — Southwark 248 Tower Hamlets 177 Wandsworth 147 Westminster 78 City of London 3 Barking and Dagenham 30 Barnet 13 Bexley 50 Brent 91 Bromley 34 Croydon 41 Ealing 92 Enfield 44 Haringey 96 Harrow 20 Havering 28 Hillingdon 18 Hounslow 59 Kingston Upon Thames 18 Merton 44 Newham 103 Redbridge 58 Richmond Upon Thames 12 Sutton 34 Waltham Forest 56 1 Figures for 1987 are provisional and subject to revision. 2 Figures for Islington and Lewisham were not available. 3 Children in care who were boarded out in the area of another local authority and were not boarded out with a relative or friend. We understand that some local authorities are not successful in recruiting within their own areas a sufficient number and range of foster parents for children requiring placements.