HC Deb 04 November 1965 vol 718 cc1212-3
28. Lord Balniel

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the outcome of the inquiries by the Commissioner of Police following the allegation that the Memorial Centre of Help for Babies, Knightsbridge, administered by Mrs. Holman Richards, was in breach of the Adoption Act, 1958; and what has been the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Miss Bacon

The Memorial Centre of Help for Babies is not now administered by Mrs. Holman Richards and her adoption work is to be taken over by a newly formed properly constituted and registered Society.

Following the reply which I gave on 9th April to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Pontypool (Mr. Abse) the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis decided to make inquiries with a view to determining whether there were grounds for instituting proceedings against the Centre or Mrs. Holman Richards for offences against the Adoption Act, 1958. A report of the results of these inquiries was recently made to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who advised the Commissioner of Police that no action should be taken. The Memorial Centre and Mrs. Holman Richards have been informed of this decision.

Lord Balniel

Is the hon. Lady aware that the Memorial Centre of Help for Babies takes no part in adoptions, and that this allegation has been the cause of very great distress to an elderly person who has devoted her whole life to social work of great value? I agree that there might have been an unintentional and very technical breach of the Adoption Acts, but is the hon. Lady aware that the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions not to take any action is a source of very great pleasure to the many supporters of this Centre?

Miss Bacon

I have said that this work will be taken over by a properly registered society. I think that where adoptions are being made in this manner it is better that the society concerned shall be registered as an adoption society.

Mr. Abse

Is it not a fact that this distasteful and obnoxious brochure which was being issued in association with the Centre was withdrawn as a result of inquiries made by the police? Would it not have been even more desirable, in order that people should be completely free from ambiguity in the matter, that those who want to arrange adoptions should not attempt to put a coach-and-four through the existing law but see that they are registered properly with local authority supervision?

Miss Bacon

It is quite true that the brochure to which attention was drawn by my hon. Friend was withdrawn.