§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase the number of children's home places in the province. [151185]
§ Angela SmithIn recent years the total number of available residential places has increased from 332 (2001) to 409 (January 2004). Plans for a further increase in the number of residential places and a continuing programme of replacements for unsuitable and substandard facilities are currently being developed but have not yet been fully finalised. It is expected that these further plans will involve an increase of around 50 in the number of residential places available over the next three years.