§ Ms CoffeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children looked after by local authorities were placed in the area of another local authority in the last year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. BowisDuring the year ending 31 March 1993, it is estimated that 4,200 children looked after by local authorities in England started foster placements in the area of other authorities. At 31 March 1993, the total number currently placed in that way was 5,700. Corresponding figures are not available centrally for other types of placement.
§ Ms CoffeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children looked after by local authorities were placed in residential care(a) in privately registered children's homes under section 63 of the Children Act 1989, (b) in residential care homes registered under the Residential Homes Act 1984 and (c) in voluntary children's homes registered under the Children Act 1989 in the last year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. BowisEstimates for the year ending 31 March 1993 are shown in the table:
Children looked after by local authorities and placed in selected types of residential tare homes, England estimates for the year ending 31 March 1993. Type of Home Number1 starting a placement during the year Number1 at 31 March a In privately registered children's homes under section 63 of the Children Act 1989 690 670 b In residential care homes registered under the Registered Homes Act 1984 60 60 c In voluntary children's homes registered under the Children Act 1989 550 620 Notes:
1Figures are provisional and are estimated to the nearest 10. They exclude children accommodated in a series of short-term placements under one agreement under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989.
§ Ms CoffeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when information on the placement of children looked after by local authorities for the year 1993–94 will be available.
§ Ms CoffeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children looked after by local authorities were absent for more than one week from agreed placements; and, of those children, in how many absences their whereabouts were unknown in the last year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. BowisOut of some 85,000 children looked after by local authorities during the year ended 31 March 1993, it is estimated that 680 were absent for more than one week from their agreed placements.
The number of absences of these children where the whereabouts was unknown was 520.