§ Mr. David HeathTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children's homes accommodating fewer than four children there are in(a) the Somerton and Frome constituency and (b) Somerset. [87047]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 17 June 1999]Statistics are collected once every three years on the numbers of children's homes. At 31 March 1997, the most recent date that statistics were collected, there were no children's homes accommodating fewer than four children in the former shire county of Somerset. We do not have more recent information on voluntary children's homes in this category. Our latest information is that there are seven homes in Somerset, two of which are in the town of Somerton.
§ Mr. David HeathTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the arrangements are for the inspection and registration of children's homes accommodating fewer than four children; to whom the reports of routine and unannounced inspections are made available; how many unresolved concerns have arisen in such reports since May 1997; and what steps are taken to notify home authorities of concerns arising from such inspections which would affect children who are the legal responsibility of the home authority. [87048]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 17 June 1999]Children's homes accommodating fewer than four children are not registered and inspected if they are run252W for profit by private organisations. Homes which are run on a not-for-profit basis by voluntary organisations are registered and inspected by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.
Voluntary children's homes are inspected by the social services inspectorate at least twice a year. One visit is announced in advance. The report of the announced inspection is published annually and the letter to the home reporting on the last unannounced visit is included in this publication. If there are any concerns about a home, additional inspections may be made.
Statistical records are not kept of the unresolved concerns that have arisen in the reports of individual inspections of voluntary children's homes. The social services inspectorate follows up any unresolved concerns with the home concerned. Social services inspectors may inform the local authority which is looking after the child of any concerns which subsequently remain outstanding.
§ Mr. David HeathTo ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions at a children's home accommodating fewer than four persons powers under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 have been used so that a child has been returned to the care of the home authority or to another institution. [87049]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 17 June 1999]The Department is not aware of any such occasions. A child that is looked after by a local authority and is placed in a children's home remains the responsibility of that local authority, irrespective of whether the child is placed in a children's home within or outside that local authority. The local authority may move a child without the need to refer to these powers.