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Mr. Latham
asked the secretary of state for Northern Ireland what is the average cost to public fund of keeping children between the ages of (a) five to 11 years and (b) 11 to 16 years in care; and what range of costs the average covers.
Mr. Needham
Information is not collected on a basis which would enable the segregation of costs into the age bandings requested. The average cost during 1985–86 to public funds of keeping children in care has been calculated as follows:
| £ | |
| 1.Childrens' Homes run by Health and Social Services Boards. | |
| Average running costs per resident week for 1985–86 (Costs range from £217 to £452) | 277 |
| 2.Voluntary Childrens' Homes. | |
| Average weekly charge levied on Health and Social Services Boards by Voluntary Homes (Costs range from £88 to £235) | 172 |
| 3.Boarded out children. | |
| Average weekly boarding allowances | 44 |