Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2015 to Question 219299, if she will collect information on the number of children in residential care addicted to narcotics or alcohol.

The Department for Education collects data on the number of children in residential care who have a substance misuse problem whether it is with drugs or alcohol. There are no plans to break that collection down into two sub categories. If children in residential care have a substance misuse problem – whatever the substance is – the support and services they need should be set out in their care plan. This government has introduced a significant programme of reform to improve the quality of care in children’s homes. The ‘Quality Standards’ for children’s homes, which, subject to parliamentary approval, will come into force in April 2015 include a health and wellbeing standard. This standard will be measured against the advice, services and support provided to promote children’s health and well-being and ensure they have healthy lifestyles.