§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many foster carers there are in(a) Jarrow constituency, (b) the North-east and (c) England; how many foster carers there were in each year from 1997 to 2001 in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) the North-east and (iii) England; and what his Department is doing to address the need for foster carers. [67041]
§ Jacqui SmithThere is no central statistical collection in this area. Foster carer data are collected through the training support grant (TSP), and this relates to approved foster carers. Data can be found in the table shown. Figures are available from 1998 only.
Foster carer recruitment is a very important area, in which a lot of work is being taken forward. The Department is currently undertaking a major review ("Choice Protects") of the commissioning of placements, with a special emphasis on foster care services—so that choice and stability of placements may be improved for children in care. Within this, we will be examining:
- Role and status of foster carers;
- Recruitment and retention;
- What support services are required;
- Best ways to reward foster carers;
- The training needs of foster carers.
118W
Details of the numbers of approved foster carers taken from the TSP application forms for the five years 1998–99 to 2002–03 Local authority names Directly Contracted by local council contracted via Independent agency Total number of foster carers 1998–99 LAs covered by Jarrow and Hebburn Gateshead 133 0 133 South Tyneside 142 0 142 North East Darlington 48 0 48 Durham 237 1 238 Gateshead 133 0 133 Hartlepool 72 1 73 Middlesbrough 110 0 110 Newcastle upon Tyne 230 0 230 North Tyneside 140 0 140 Northumberland 17 0 170 Redcar and Cleveland 70 0 70 South Tyneside 142 0 142 Sunderland 218 0 218 England totals 29,805 845 30,650
Details of the numbers of approved foster carers taken from the TSP application forms for the five years 1998–99 to 2002–03 Local authority names Directly Contracted by local council contracted via Independent agency Total number of foster carers 1999–2000 LAs covered by Jarrow and Hebburn Gateshead 120 2 122 South Tyneside 142 0 142 North East Darlington 54 8 62 Durham 256 1 257 Gateshead 120 2 122 Hartlepool 69 3 72 Middlesbrough 70 2 72 Newcastle upon Tyne 203 25 228 North Tyneside 185 2 187 Northumberland 160 2 162 Redcar and Cleveland 65 0 65 South Tyneside 142 0 142 Sunderland 218 0 218 England totals 30,166 1,085 31,251 2000–01 LAs covered by Jarrow and Hebburn Gateshead 120 0 120 South Tyneside 142 0 142 North East Darlington 59 7 66 Durham 215 0 215 Gateshead 120 0 120 Hartlepool 67 0 67 Middlesbrough 77 3 80 Newcastle upon tyne 270 37 307 North Tyneside 135 0 135 Northumberland 140 2 142 Redcar and Cleveland 70 0 70 South Tyneside 142 0 142 Sunderland 218 0 218 England totals 30,645 1,532 32,177 2001–02 LAs covered by Jarrow and Hebburn Gateshead 130 0 130 South Tyneside 97 15 112 North East Darlington 49 12 61 Durham 215 0 215 Gateshead 130 0 130 Hartlepool 67 0 67 Middlesbrough 86 11 97 Newcastle upon Tyne 321 19 340 North Tyneside 140 0 140 Northumberland 172 2 174 Redcar and Cleveland 70 0 70 South Tyneside 97 15 112 Sunderland 238 0 238 England totals 30,342 2,023 32,365 2002–03 LAs covered by Jarrow and Hebburn Gateshead 130 0 130 South Tyneside 61 0 61 North East Darlington 51 0 51 Durham 225 0 225 Gateshead 130 0 130 Hartlepool 54 1 55 Middlesbrough 99 9 108 Newcastle upon Tyne 290 28 318 North Tyneside 155 0 155 Northumberland 172 2 174 Redcar and Cleveland 61 0 61 South Tyneside 61 0 61 Sunderland 301 0 301 England totals 30,353 1,206 31,559