§ Ms CorstonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 30 March,Official Report, column 889, how many of those children received into care because of homelessness remained in care for more than one year; and how many of those children were not subsequently reunited with their parents.
§ Mr. BowisInformation available centrally relates to the duration of the most recent care episode and this was first computed for the year ending 31 March 1977. Figures are available on children whose episode of care ceased because they were self-supporting/under parental care, but these do not separately identify children whose entry to care because of homelessness was in previous years. Figures for 1977 are shown in the table.
156W
Children who entered care because family was homeless (most recent care episode): numbers in care, 1977 Care status at beginning and end of year All children Children whose most recent care episode lasted one year or more 1. Children in care at 31 March 1977 1,829 1,346 2. Children who ceased to be in care in the year ending 31 March 1977 1,069 315 3. Children who came into care during the year ending 31 March 1977 but were not in care at that date 604 n/a 4. Children in line (3) whose last care episode ceased because they were self supporting/under parental care 596 n/a n/a=Not applicable. Source: Department of Health and Social Security. Personal Social Services Local Authority Statistics, Children in Care of Local Authorities, year ending 31 March 1977. (A/F 77/12).
§ Ms CorstonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were received into care in England because of homelessness in each of the years following the implementation of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977; and how many of these were gipsy or traveller children.
§ Mr. BowisThe information available centrally relates to the number of children in England taken into care on a voluntary basis because their families were made homeless. Figures for the years 1977–78 to 1990–91 are shown in the table. The information available for 1991–92 is an estimate of 110 for the period 14 October 1991 to 31 March 1992. Gipsies and travellers are not separately identified in these figures.
Children admitted to care due to homelessness England, 1978–1991 England Year ending 31 March Number of children 1978 559 1979 421 1980 529 1981 471 1982 378 1983 317 1984 244 1985 215 1986 207 1987 209 1988 179 1989 223 1990 225 1991 138