§ 49. Mr. Wilson Harrisasked the Prime Minister whether he will now indicate the Government's intentions regarding the recommendations of the Curtis Report on deprived children.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government accept the recommendations of the Curtis and Clyde Committees, that the task of providing a home background for children deprived of a normal home life should be brought under the supervision of a single central department. They have decided that, for England and Wales, this central jurisdiction should be concentrated in the Home Office. In view of its special experience in this field and the general part which it plays in the protection and welfare of young people, the Home Office is the central Department best fitted to assume this responsibility. A new and enlarged Children's Branch will be created in the Home Office, with an expanded inspectorate organised on a regional basis. The primary function of this branch will be to ensure that everything possible is done to give to homeless children, not only the material care, but also the sense of security and status which a normal home provides. A Standing Advisory Committee, widely representative of the many interests involved, and including representatives of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour, will be appointed to assist the Home Office in its administration. In Scotland, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, is already the responsible Minister for all aspects of child care; but he proposes to assign to the Scottish Home Department functions broadly similar to 854 those which will be given to the Children's Branch of the Home Office, and to appoint a Scottish Standing Advisory Committee. The existing special responsibilities of the Admiralty and the War Office for orphans of Service men, and of the Ministry of Pensions for war orphans, will continue, and are not affected by these decisions.
The Government also accept the recommendations of the Curtis and Clyde Committees that county councils and county borough councils in England and Wales, and county councils and town councils of large burghs in Scotland, should be the local authorities responsible for the welfare of all children deprived of a normal home life. The arrangements for the discharge of this function in each area should be defined in a scheme drawn up by the local authority and approved by the Secretary of State, and it is proposed that, unless there are exceptional reasons to the contrary, the local authority should, at least for a period of three years, exercise their responsibility through a children's committee on the lines suggested in the Curtis and Clyde Reports. It is also intended that the schemes should make provision for the appointment by each local authority of a children's officer, who would be in general charge of the work of providing a home background for homeless children. The Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Scotland will take up the tasks of preparing the legislation necessary for this purpose, and for the purpose of implementing the other recommendations of the Curtis and Clyde Committees which require changes in the law. They will also carry out such preliminary work towards the reorganisation of the arrangements for caring for deprived children as can be undertaken before the passage of legislation.
§ Mr. Wilson HarrisIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that hope fulfilled goes some way towards curing the sickness of hope deferred? Will he undertake, in view of the time which has lapsed since this Report was presented, to introduce legislation with the utmost expedition?
§ The Prime MinisterThat question should be put to my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House. We intend to introduce legislation, but I cannot give a date.
§ Mr. DumpletonWill the House have an opportunity of discussing the statement the Prime Minister has made, because many matters of interest arise?
§ Mr. Kenneth LindsayMay I press upon the Prime Minister the point raised from the other side in regard to discussing this matter? There may be some disquiet at the decisions taken in regard to local authorities. Ought we not to have an opportunity to discuss the matter, if only for a few hours?