§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many children in local authority care were placed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation alone in the last year, broken down by local authority. [9820]
§ Jacqui SmithI have been asked to reply.
The information requested is not collected centrally. The Department does collect data about placements of looked-after children in a broader category consisting of lodgings, residential employment or living independently. This data category does not denote whether the young person is living alone or with other people.
On 31 March 2001, 1,100 looked-after young people in England were reported to be placed in this broader accommodation category. This represents 2 per cent. of all children who were looked after on that date.