§ Mr. MellorI beg to move amendment No. 123, in page 51, line 12, at end insert "and linguistic'.
§ Mr. SpeakerWith this we may discuss Government amendments Nos. 129, 54, 407, 75 and 131.
§ Mr. MellorThis formidable list of amendments deals with the welfare responsibilities of the local authority, voluntary organisation or person running a children's home who is looking after a child. They include a 490 requirement to give due consideration to the religious persuasion, racial origin and cultural background of the child. An example of that can be found in clause 19(5)(c).
Hon. Members who sat through the Committee stage will be aware that the Commission for Racial Equality supported amendments that would add a reference to the child's language. I agreed in Committee that that point should be met and that is the intention of Government amendments Nos. 123, 129, 54 and 131. The child's linguistic background is quite likely to have a bearing on his development and on how he should be cared for, and I am only too happy to put that point into the Bill. I am sure that it will be welcome news to the House.
Amendment No. 75 is purely a drafting amendment, changing a reference to religious creed to "religious persuasion". The word "persuasion" is generally used in the Bill; "creed" must have slipped in through an oversight.—
§ Amendment agreed to.