HC Deb 05 May 1959 vol 605 cc257-8
Mr. R. Thompson

I beg to move, in page 7, line 3, to leave out subsection (2).

Perhaps it may be for the convenience of the House to take this Amendment together with the two Amendments immediately following, and the three Amendments to the Second Schedule, as they are all related.

5.15 p.m.

This slightly complicated drafting exercise arises from a point raised in Committee by the right hon. Lady the Member for Warrington (Dr. Summerskill) in our earlier proceedings, reported in column 196 of the OFFICIAL REPORT. The right hon. Lady wanted to provide for the case, which occasionally arises, where one local health authority is responsible for a child's care, but the child is housed outside that authority's boundaries. Her Amendment to deal with this situation was technically defective, and my right hon. and learned Friend undertook to consider the point, and a similar point that arose in relation to a local education authority, and make the necessary Amendments to meet them. That is achieved by these Amendments. Although it probably seems simple enough, in fact it is not easy to find a form of words to put into a statute to define which should be the responsible authority.

Dr. Summerskill

I am very glad that the Parliamentary Secretary has found means whereby he can regularise the position i1 the case of the child living outside the boundaries of the local authority, and I accept the Amendment.

Mr. Sorensen

May I deal with another aspect of this Clause, and ask the Minister whether the local health authority, under the Clause as now amended, will still be able, if necessary, and where it is desirable, to transfer actual teaching responsibility to the education authority? Is it possible for the education authority in that case to come in and take over from the local health authority?

Mr. Thompson

That is so.

Amendment agreed to.