§ Ms ShipleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total level of resources he spent in the(a) current and (b) previous financial year to support 16 and 17-year-olds leaving local authority care. [97304]
§ Mr. HuttonGross expenditure by local authorities in England on all children who have left local authority care was £23 million for 1997–98, the latest year for which information is available.
In addition, certain 16 and 17-year-olds leaving care are, like their peers, eligible for benefits. There are no centrally collected statistics on the benefits paid to 16 and 17-year-old care leavers.
§ Ms ShipleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total level of resources he spent in the(a) current and (b) previous financial year to support 16 and 17-year-olds in local authority care. [97302]
§ Mr. HuttonInformation on the total level of resources to support 16 and 17-year-olds looked after by local authorities is not held centrally. Statistics for 1997–98, the latest year available, show that gross expenditure of £969 million was spent on all children looked after by local authorities in England. Provisional statistics on the numbers of children looked after by local authorities in England at 31 March show that for all age groups there were 55,300 children of whom 9,000 were 16 years and over.
In addition, certain 16 and 17-year-olds in local authority care (such as lone parents and disabled children) are, like their peers in the community, eligible for benefits. There are no centrally held statistics on the number of 16 and 17-year-olds who fall into these categories.