Are there more children in care in England than at any time since the 1980s?
Full Fact, the UK's independent factchecking charity, has examined the claim that the state is removing more children from their families in England than at any time since the 1980s.
The claim was highlighted in a recent article in The Economist. The article looks at the English care system and possible reasons why there has been a surge.
The Full Fact investigation reaffirms that the number of children that are "looked after" by their local authority is at its highest point in England since 1985, but points out that not all of these children will necessarily have been removed from their families.
Full Fact attribute the increase in numbers to a number of factors, including: an increase in care applications following the high profile death of Baby P; and new guidance issued in 2010 meaning that local authorities must provide accommodation to 16 and 17 year old who are homeless or require accommodation.