§ Lord Lamingasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many young people in the care of local authorities are placed outside the boundary of the parent authority; and [HL785]
What action is being taken to ensure that young people in the care of local authorities are not placed outside their authority unless there are good childcare reasons for doing so. [HL786]
§ Lord FilkinThe number of looked after children in England, either in a foster placement or children's home, based outside the area of the placing authority in England was 13,900, out of a total of 47,000 at 31 March 2003. This represents just under 30 percent.
182WAThe Government are determined to work with local authorities to reduce this figure. We know that, while some children need to be placed out-of-authority, many looked after children placed a long way from home suffer poorer educational and other outcomes than looked after children living in or near their own communities. That is why I shall be writing shortly to all local authorities in England to press them to develop strategies to ensure that they place looked after children out-of-authority only where their assessed needs clearly justify it.