§ 2. Mr. Michieasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, when the responses to the child care law review have been considered, a final report will be published; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Secretary of State for Social Services (Mr. Norman Fowler)The Government will be considering how best to take matters forward in the light of the responses to the report of the child care law review, and we will make our intentions known in due course.
§ Mr. MichieIn view of the consistent research findings that the provision of day care facilities for children reduces 780 the need for committal to local authority care also and in view of the high cost of state care for children, will the Secretary of State give an assurance that in the child care law review local authorities will have a statutory duty to provide adequate nursery places? At the same time, will he assure us that he will provide the financial wherewithal to carry out that statutory duty?
§ Mr. FowlerThe hon. Gentleman takes us further than the child care law review goes. So far, the response of officials to the report, which was published last October, has been favourable; but, having said that, I have the strongest sympathy with the point that the hon. Gentleman makes. Day care facilities of the kind that he sets out are an important contribution in this area.
§ Mr. BaldryHaving regard to recent cases and the report of the National Children's Home into children in danger, is it not vital to have full public confidence in the law in relation to every aspect of child care and dealing with children? Is there not a danger of this matter being tackled in a somewhat piecemeal fashion?
§ Mr. FowlerThere is a danger if this is dealt with in a piecemeal fashion, and that is one reason for the report. The Government accept the need for reform of the law. It should be dealt with as one, and I hope that we shall be able to put proposals to the House in the not too distant future that will enable that to be done.