Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Adoption Support Fund, how many claims have been received on behalf of previously looked after children now on special guardianship orders; how many of those claims have been successful (a) in total and (b) by local authority area; and what the average amount awarded was (i) in total and (ii) by local authority area.

Between the period 1 April 2016 to 25 September 2018[1], there were 1,929 applications submitted on behalf of previously looked after children now living in special guardianship arrangements, of which 1,767 were successful; 12 were unsuccessful; 92 are currently being processed; and 58 were withdrawn. The total average amount awarded was £2,950.

Local authority area information can be found in the attached table.[2]

[1] The Adoption Support Fund was extended to previously looked after children now living in special guardianship arrangements on 1 April 2016.

[2] All amounts have been rounded to the nearest pound.