§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of mentally handicapped children currently in(a) local authority residential care, (b) private residential care and (c) voluntary residential care (i) in the north-west and (ii) nationally; and what are the corresponding figures for 10 years previously. [34105]
§ Mr. BowisThe table shows centrally available information on children and, to enable comparison between years, figures for people of all ages in homes for children.
Residents in residential care for children with learning disabilities as at 31 March Numbers All sectors Local authority Voluntary sector Private sector North West1 19872 all ages1 263 224 39 0 under 164 125 106 19 0 1995 all ages3 164 152 12 0 under 18 153 141 12 0 England 19872 all ages3 1,530 1,115 307 108 under 164 743 579 112 52 1995 all ages3 1,328 919 282 127 under 18 1,037 777 189 71 Source: DH annual return RAC5 1North west standard statistical region. 2Figures are not available before 1987. 3Includes both children and adults receiving care in homes for children with learning disabilities. 4Before 1994, information was collected on children under 16, so the figures cannot be compared directly.