evidence: Right now, there are 104,680 children in care in the UK. In England, the number is at an all-time high with 83,840 children in the care system – an increase of 2% from 2022. In Scotland, there are 12,596 looked after children, 7,080 in Wales, and 3,801 in Northern Ireland. [...] In 2022, just over four fifths, or 83 per cent, of the children in care in Northern Ireland were in foster placements. In England, this number was 70%.