Figures showing the position for children looked after at 31 March 2018 will be published on the 15 November 2018.<\/p>
The latest figures show that the number of children who were looked after as at 31 March 2017 was 72,670.<\/p>
There were 4,350 looked after children adopted during the year ending 31 March 2017. In that period, the average time between the decision the child should be placed for adoption and the child being matched to adopters was eight months. These figures were published in 2017 in table A1, E1 and E2 of the statistical release \u2018Children looked after in England including adoption: 2016 to 2017 (SFR 50/2017)\u2019 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2016-to-2017<\/a>.<\/p> Some 2,580 children had a placement order but had not been placed for adoption as at 31 March 2017. 18 per cent (or 460 children) had been waiting 18 months or more since the adoption decision. Figures on the number and percentage of children categorised by other waiting times are published in table E4 of the above statistical publication.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4689", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Agnew of Oulton"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-14T15:48:00.567Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children in Care"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government how many children were in care in the last 12 months; how many were adopted during that period; what was the average waiting time for adoption applications to be processed; and what percentage of children currently awaiting adoption have been waiting for longer than 18 months.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/738", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
], "uin" : "HL11225"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1002205", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1002205/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Since 2010 we have taken significant steps to review and reform the way that fostering and adoption services are delivered.<\/p> In July 2018 we published \u2018Fostering better outcomes\u2019 which set out the government commitments to improve the fostering system, in response to the Education Select Committee report into fostering and \u2018Foster care in England\u2019, an independent review published in January 2018.<\/p> We are committed to delivering the commitments set out in these reports, in order to help us to drive improvements across children\u2019s social care.<\/em><\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4689", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Agnew of Oulton"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-14T15:39:33.207Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Adoption and Foster Care"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to commission a review of adoption and fostering policy.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/738", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
], "uin" : "HL11226"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1002468", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1002468/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The requested information is not held centrally.<\/p> Information on schools and pupils is published at the annual \u2018Schools, pupils and their characteristics\u2019 statistical release:<\/p> https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2018<\/a>.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4689", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Agnew of Oulton"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-20T16:17:10.21Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Parents: Death"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they record annually the number of children in full-time education whose mothers or fathers have passed away; and if so, how many such children there were in each of the last six years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4533", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Altmann"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Altmann"}
], "uin" : "HL11309"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1002480", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1002480/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " \u200bThe department will be consulting on the impact that these costs will impose on all institutions covered by the Teachers\u2019 Pension Scheme, including those in the higher education (HE) sector, and will decide what action should be taken.<\/p> At present, the department proposes to provide funding to schools, including state-funded, non-maintained special schools and independent special schools to cover increased pensions costs to ensure that funding is allocated where it is most needed.<\/p> \u200bThis includes proposed funding for those further education (FE) providers obliged to offer the Teachers\u2019 Pension Scheme, consisting of general FE colleges, sixth form colleges, designated institutions (including the new designated institutions that form part of HE institution group structures), specialist post-16 institutions and adult & community learning providers (local authority provision).<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4169", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Viscount Younger of Leckie"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-15T16:17:49.297Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Higher Education: Pensions"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what level of funding they intend to make available to higher education institutions to mitigate the impact of changes to employer contributions on the Teachers\u2019 Pension Scheme.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3842", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Garden of Frognal"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Garden of Frognal"}
], "uin" : "HL11321"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1002481", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1002481/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " For the financial year 2019-20, the changes will be implemented from 1 September 2019 for which the department estimates that £1.1 billion more will need to be put into the Teachers\u2019 Pension Scheme by employers to ensure teachers\u2019 pensions remain generous and attractive to the profession. Of the estimated £1.1 billion, affected higher education institutions are expected to put in £80 million.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4169", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Viscount Younger of Leckie"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-15T15:27:34.927Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Higher Education: Pensions"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they anticipate an increase in employer contributions for higher education institutions on the Teachers\u2019 Pension Scheme following changes to actuarial valuations in 2019\u201320; and if so, what estimate they have made of the amount such an increase will represent.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3842", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Garden of Frognal"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Garden of Frognal"}
], "uin" : "HL11322"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005636", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005636/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " On 9 April 2018, the Home Office published a new \u2018Serious Violence Strategy\u2019, available in the Libraries of both Houses, including 61 recommendations spanning cross government departments to take action to address serious violence, and in particular, the recent increases in knife crime, gun crime and homicide. The strategy puts a stronger emphasis on steering young people away from violence, helping them to change their behaviour and actions before they reach the stage where they are at risk of entering the criminal justice system.<\/p> The Department for Education is making relationships education compulsory in all primary schools, relationships and sex education compulsory in all secondary schools and health education compulsory in all state-funded schools. Under the new reforms, the draft guidance, attached, sets out that pupils should develop positive, respectful relationships, including with their peers; and that violence is never acceptable. The draft guidance also covers awareness of violence and exploitation by gangs, as well as criminal exploitation, for example through gang involvement or \u2018county lines\u2019 drugs operations.<\/p> <\/p> Citizenship education also helps to provide pupils with knowledge, skills and understanding to prepare them to play a full and active part in society \u2013 including an understanding of the role of law and the justice system in our society and how laws are shaped and enforced.<\/p> <\/p> In addition, the \u2018Keeping Children Safe in Education\u2019 statutory guidance, attached, sets out the legal duties that all schools must have regard to when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4689", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Agnew of Oulton"}
, "attachment" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005636/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "HL11407_draft_guidance_relationships_education.pdf"}
, "title" : "HL11407_draft_guidance_relationships_education"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005636/answer/attachment/2", "fileName" : {"_value" : "HL11407_Keeping_Children_Safe_in_Education__3_September_2018_14.09.18.pdf"}
, "title" : "HL11407_Keeping_Children_Safe_in_Education__3_Sept"}
], "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-26T12:30:18.63Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Crime Prevention"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what education programmes (1) are in place, and (2) they intend to put in place, to enable schools and families to engage with children to prevent their becoming involved in criminality, gangs and violent behaviour.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2170", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ouseley"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Ouseley"}
], "uin" : "HL11407"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006688", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006688/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The latest figures show that the number of children who were placed outside the boundary of the local authority responsible for their safety and wellbeing at the 31 March 2018 was 30,670, or 41% of all looked-after children. These figures were published in table A5 of the statistical release \u2018Children looked after in England including adoption: 2017 to 2018\u2019 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2017-to-2018<\/a>.<\/p> The department does not collect information on the distance in miles between the placement of a child and the boundary edge of the local authority. The department does collect, however, two separate pieces of information in relation to placement location; the distance the child is placed away from their home postcode and whether the placement is located inside or outside their responsible local authority. The number of looked-after children placed outside their local authority boundary and more than 50 miles from their home was 5,380 (or 7% of all looked-after children) at 31 March 2018. There were 2,080 children (or 3% of all looked-after children) placed more than 100 miles from their home and outside their local authority boundary. These figures exclude children where the distance of the placement is unknown.<\/p> We want to reduce out of area placements, but they will always be part of the care landscape. Sometimes local authorities have to identify a placement outside of the child\u2019s local area to disrupt gang violence, trafficking or sexual exploitation or where specialist provision is needed.<\/p> In recent years government has also increasingly asked local authorities to consider boarding as an option for looked-after children if it may be suitable for them and in some instances this may mean children are placed outside of their local authority area.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4689", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Agnew of Oulton"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "HL11469"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-27T17:53:49.653Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children in Care"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government how many children in public care are placed outside the boundary of the local authority with responsibility for their safety and wellbeing.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2079", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Laming"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Laming"}
], "uin" : "HL11468"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006689", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006689/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
<\/strong>In 2016 \u2018Adoption: a vision for change\u2019 was published which set out the government\u2019s plans to address challenges in the adoption system over the following four years.<\/p>