§ Mr. BatisteTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average weekly cost of a juvenile stay(a) in care and (b) in a secure unit in 1992; and how the figure is calculated.
§ Mr. TippingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many secure places in children's homes are provided by each local authority.
§ Mr. YeoInformation about the cost per week for children in care in England is set out in the table for the two main categories of placement.
390WThe average cost is derived from the revenue expenditure 1990–91 divided by the average of the numbers of children in care at 31 March 1990 and 1991 under each accommodation heading.
Information about the costs for children accommodated in secure units in the form requested is not collected centrally.
Expenditure by local authorities in England on care 1990–91 Accommodation Average cost per child per week £ Foster placements 102 Community homes 536
§ Mr. BatisteTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the Government's policy for providing secure accommodation for persistent juvenile offenders.
§ Mr. JackI have been asked to reply.
The Government are currently looking urgently at the adequacy of arrangements for dealing with a small minority of juvenile offenders who appear to be responsible for a disproportionate amount of recorded crime attributed to their age group. This review includes consideration of the need both for new powers for the courts and for new secure facilities.