The cost of placements for children in care is rising

Budgets and expenditure for councils in England, £bn

Budget

Actual or projected expenditure

£6bn

£5.4bn

£4.8bn

£4.7bn

£4.1bn

4

2

0

2022-23

2023-24

Budget

Actual or projected expenditure

£6bn

£5.4bn

£4.8bn

£4.7bn

£4.1bn

4

2

0

2022-23

2023-24

Guardian graphic. Source: Local Government Association. Note: figures are extrapolated for all English councils based on the number of respondent councils, 122 for 2022-23 and 121 for 2023-24