To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of care services for 16 to 17-year-olds in each local authority are provided by private corporations. (113414)

The DfES obtains information from each Local Authority Social Services Department relating to looked after children from ages 0-18 years, their legal status and the reasons for their being in care. There is also a vast range of other care services which local authorities provide, including respite care, services for children with disabilities and child care.

The information supplied to the Department does not disaggregate these services according to the age of the person and the type of organisation which provides the services. However, the Department is keen to see a mixed market of providers, to enable local authorities to commission the appropriate services which will best improve the outcomes for the young person.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what representations he has received on the availability and provision of care services for disabled children; (113507)

Ministers meet regularly with representatives of the disabled children’s voluntary sector, discussing these and other matters.

Written representations have been received this year relating to:

the disability strand of the joint HM Treasury/Department for Education and Skills Children and Young People’s Review;

“Care Matters”—the Green Paper on looked-after children;

the “Every Disabled Child Matters” Campaign;

the Disabled Children’s Assessments and Services Bill; and

the Disabled Children’s Short Breaks Bill.

Representations have related in particular (but not exclusively) to short breaks (respite care) for disabled children, child care for disabled children and services for disabled children who are looked after.

Early in the new year Ministers will meet parliamentary and voluntary sector proponents of the Disabled Children’s Short Breaks Bill, now before Parliament.