Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children subject to care orders (s31) as defined by the Children Act 1989 are placed with their (a) full and (b) half siblings.

Local authorities hold such information in plans for looked after children and adopted children. This data is not sent to the Department. Local authorities must take account of a family’s needs when planning care for a child in so far as is consistent with the welfare of a child (which remains paramount), as set out in guidance on care placements, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-act-1989-care-planning-placement-and-case-review. Where it is not possible, or appropriate, to place siblings together, siblings must be supported to understand the reasons why. Contact arrangements between siblings must be robust and remain under independent review.