To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) residency and (b) guardianship orders there were in force in each local authority social services area in each of the last five years. (286436)

I have been asked to reply.

The number of residency and special guardianship orders made in England and Wales over the last five years are contained in the following table.

In the majority of cases individuals, not local authorities, apply for these orders in private law proceedings. Special guardianship orders came into force on 30 December 2005 and are provided for in sections 14A to 14G of the Children Act 1989.

A court may resolve a local authority's public law application by making a residence or special guardianship order to a named individual.