§ Ms PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the number of children by age in each year since 1989(a) in foster care and (b) adopted; and what was the time spent in foster care by age prior to adoption in each of those years.
§ Mr. BowisThe number of children in local authority care in foster placements by age at 31 March is published in "Children in care, 31 March, England" for the years 1989 to 1991. Figures for 1992 are not yet available at this level of detail. Information about the number of children adopted by age is published in "Marriage and Divorce statistics series FM2, year ending October". Copies of both publications are available in the Library.
Information about the length of placement has only been collected following the implementation of the Children Act 1989. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 17 June at column. 688 for the information that is currently available.