§ 12. Mr. Douglasasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the number of children who have been placed by Scottish local authorities in local authority children's homes in England and Wales.
§ Mr. MonroDetailed information about such placements is not collected, but the percentage is estimated to be very small.
§ Mr. DouglasDoes not the Under-Secretary agree that it is unfortunate that we do not have this information, because if children from Scottish homes have to be sent to local authority places in England and Wales considerable inconvenience may be caused? Will the hon. Gentleman ascertain the reasons for these children having been placed south of the border.
§ Mr. MonroThere must be a special reason, because at the moment rather less than 1 per cent. of these children go to England and Wales and this is normally only done when it is to the advantage of the children to be near relatives.