Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the introduction of the category of distant placements for looked-after children on the number placed more than 20 miles from their last known address (a) in children's homes and (b) with foster carers; and if she will make a statement.

Data is collected on the distance of placements from home for looked after children. Data for 2014 is published in table A6 of the annual Children looked after in England, including adoption statistical first release. This can be found online here: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption--2

It is not possible to attribute the change in the number of children placed more than 20 miles from their home area to the introduction of the category of distant placements as a number of factors will affect decisions on where to place children, including their specific needs.