To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many foster family arrangements (a) remained as a stable family unit for longer than 12 months and (b) broke down with the children returning to care facilities within 12 months in the most recent period for which figures are available. (183549)

The number of children looked after at 31 March 2007 who had been in the same foster placement for longer than 12 months was 23,900. In the 12 months up to that date, 1,400 children were in a foster placement for less than 12 months and then moved to a care placement which was not based in a family¹.

¹ The following placements have been counted: Secure units, homes and hostels, residential care homes, NHS trust providing medical/nursing care, family centre or mother and baby unit, young offenders’ institution or prison, residential schools.