asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average cost to local authorities, as notified to his Department, 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.

The information is not available in the form requested. In 1985–86 the average gross cost to local authorities of residential care was £325 per child per week. The average cost of fostering and boarding out was £37 per child per week. Neither of these costs includes the costs of social workers involved in case work, culminating in children being placed in care.