§ Mr. George OsborneTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children aged up to three months entered local authority care in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [141835]
§ Margaret HodgeThe figures available provide a snapshot at March 31 2002. At 31 March 2002 there were 390 children aged nought to three months looked after by local authorities in England.
Data for 2003 is currently being evaluated and will be available in March 2004.
§ Mr. George OsborneTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average age of a child entering local authority care was in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [141838]
§ Margaret HodgeThe figures available provide a snapshot at 31 March 2002. The average age of the children looked after by local authorities at 31 March 2002 is 10 years and 6 months. Data for 2003 is currently being evaluated and will be available in March 2004.