§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average time during which looked after children were held in care under the responsibility of local authorities in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the trend. [19203]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 29 November 2001]: The table provides figures on the average number of care days per child, together with the number of children looked after at any time in the year, and the total number of care days provided, for looked after children in years ending 31 March 1996 and 31 March 2000. The figures are broken down according to legal status.
The figures show that the average number of days in care per child in a year has increased.
Long-term trends show that although the total number who are looked after at any time in the year has been increasing in recent years, annual totals for the number who started to be looked after and the number who ceased to be looked after in the previous 12 months have both been slightly decreasing over the same period.
At the beginning of 2001 the Department commissioned the Thomas Coram Research Unit (Institute of Education, University of London) to conduct a tightly focused research study into the reasons that lie behind this increase in the number of children looked after by local authorities.
The research is designed to assess, among other things, the extent to which drug taking, alcoholism, violence and mental health problems within the family may have been significant factors underlying decisions made by Courts and local authorities to look after children.
132W
Number of children looked after at any time during the year, and the number of days of care provided during years ending 31 March 1996 and 2000, England
1996 2000 1995–20001 Total Number of looked after children in year 79,400 81,500 3 Care days provided (thousand) 18,227 20,820 14 Average number of days per child 229 255 11 Full care orders and interim care orders Number of looked after children in year 35,500 43,700 23 Care days provided (thousand) 10,494 13.094 25 Average number of days per child 296 300 1 Section 20 of Children Act 1989 Number of looked after children in year 43,600 37,700 -13
Number of children looked after at any time during the year, and the number of days of care provided during years ending 31 March 1996 and 2000, England 1996 2000 1995–20001 Care days provided (thousand) 7,140 6,977 -2 Average number of days per child 164 185 13 Other legal statuses Number of looked after children in year 7,100 8,300 16 Care days provided (thousand) 592 749 27 Average number of days per child 83 91 9 1 Percentage increase Notes:
1. Table excludes children looked after under a series of short term placements
2. A child may appear in more than one legal status category in the year, hence sub-totals do not add up to total of all children
Source:
DH annual statistical return SSDA 903