49. Mr. Da la Bèreasked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange in the inspection of small children's homes throughout the country, for steps to be taken to prevent overlapping by officials from the various Ministries on visits of inspection, and for one official to visit these smaller homes instead of separate officials from the Ministries of Health, Education and the Home Department.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI have been asked to reply. The ordinary inspection of children's homes is carried out by Home Office inspectors, and as a rule only one inspector visits the home. Visits to residential nurseries which apply for approval as training centres for nursery nurses have 2235 hitherto been made by inspectors of the Home Office and the Ministries of Health and Education, since all three Departments are concerned with the training of these nurses. In future, such visits will normally be made by not more than two inspectors.
Mr. De la BèreMay I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his answer, which was, however, not quite satisfactory? May I ask if he will take further steps to ensure that only the bare minimum of inspections take place in these homes?
§ Mr. MorrisonI am happy to assure the hon. Gentleman that the point of his question is being actively watched in the Departments concerned.