Children in Care (Hansard, 3 May 1991)

§ Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his latest estimate of the average weekly cost per child or young person in care.

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
Information about the costs to local authorities of children in care expressed in terms of cost per child week for different types of accommodation are published in the reports under the Child Care Act 1980 entitled "Children in Care in England and Wales". The most recent publication is for the year ending 31 March 1988, copies of which are available in the Library.

§ Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his latest estimate of the number of children and young persons in care; and if he will give details of the reasons for their admission.

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
The latest estimate of the number of children and young persons in care is for 31 March 1989. It is estimated that 62,148 children and young people were in care then. The numbers in care have fallen by 32 per cent. since 1979. The table shows this broken down by legal status and reason for current episode. These figures are provisional.

Children in the care of local authorities at 31 March by reason for entering care, England

England

Reason for entering care 1989

Received into care under section 2 of the Child Care Act 1980

Short-term illness of parent or guardian 1,668

Long-term illness or incapacity of parent 1,122

Confinement of mother 199

Family homeless 304

Parents are dead/no guardian 317

Abandoned or lost 1,122

Death of parent 895

Deserted by parent 3,134

Parent or guardian in prison or custody 414

Unsatisfactory home conditions 5,460

Other reasons 9,072

Sub-total 23,707

(Percentage of total) (38%)

Committed into care by order of the courts

On remand or committed for trial 615

Subject to interim care order 2,101

Sub-total 2,716

Committed by care orders made under the Children and Young Persons Act 1969:

S.1(2)(a) neglect, ill treatment 14,990

S.1(2)(a) neglect, ill treatment of another child in household 1,699

S.1(2)(bb) member of household convicted of an offence against children 296

S.1(2)(c) moral danger 957

367W

Reason for entering care 1989

S.1(2)(d) beyond parental control 1,911

S.1(2)(e) not receiving full time education 1,070

S.1(2)(f)/7(7) guilty of an offence 2,122

S.15(1) in place of a supervision order 790

S.25(1)/26(2) transfer of a care order 29

Sub-total 23,864

Committed by care orders made under other Acts

Section 43(1) of the MCA 1973 3,627

Section 10(1) DPMCA 1978 160

Section 7(2) of the FLRA 1969 6,409

Section 2(2)(b) of the GA 1973 1,180

Section 17(1)(b) of the CA 1975 16

Others 469

Total number of children in care 62,148

Children in the care of local authorities at 31 March by reason for entering care, England
England
Reason for entering care	1989
Received into care under section 2 of the Child Care Act 1980
Short-term illness of parent or guardian	1,668
Long-term illness or incapacity of parent	1,122
Confinement of mother	199
Family homeless	304
Parents are dead/no guardian	317
Abandoned or lost	1,122
Death of parent	895
Deserted by parent	3,134
Parent or guardian in prison or custody	414
Unsatisfactory home conditions	5,460
Other reasons	9,072
Sub-total	23,707
(Percentage of total)	(38%)
Committed into care by order of the courts
On remand or committed for trial	615
Subject to interim care order	2,101
Sub-total	2,716
Committed by care orders made under the Children and Young Persons Act 1969:
S.1(2)(a) neglect, ill treatment	14,990
S.1(2)(a) neglect, ill treatment of another child in household	1,699
S.1(2)(bb) member of household convicted of an offence against children	296
S.1(2)(c) moral danger	957

Reason for entering care	1989
S.1(2)(d) beyond parental control	1,911
S.1(2)(e) not receiving full time education	1,070
S.1(2)(f)/7(7) guilty of an offence	2,122
S.15(1) in place of a supervision order	790
S.25(1)/26(2) transfer of a care order	29
Sub-total	23,864
Committed by care orders made under other Acts
Section 43(1) of the MCA 1973	3,627
Section 10(1) DPMCA 1978	160
Section 7(2) of the FLRA 1969	6,409
Section 2(2)(b) of the GA 1973	1,180
Section 17(1)(b) of the CA 1975	16
Others	469
Total number of children in care	62,148