VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Children in Care: Scotland and Wales

Asked by Jake RichardsLabourDepartment for EducationTabled Answered 3 March 2025UIN 32553

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children under the care of English local authorities were living in (a) Wales and (b) Scotland on (i) 31 March 2024 and (ii) for each of the preceding four years.

Answered by Janet Daby

The number of children looked after by English local authorities who were living more than 50 and 100 miles from home on 31 March 2024 and for each of the preceding four years is shown in the table below.

Year

Living more than 50 miles from home

Of which: living more than 100 miles from home

2020

6,850

2,920

2021

7,210

2,990

2022

7,010

2,970

2023

7,210

3,060

2024

7,350

3,120

Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.

The number of children looked after by English local authorities who were living in Wales and Scotland on 31 March 2024 and for each of the preceding four years is published annually in section 4.7 of the methodology document that accompanies our statistical release. This can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/methodology/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions#content-section-4-content-7.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim