HC Deb 31 October 1995 vol 265 c89
7. Ms Coffey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve the quality of care provided by small unregistered children's homes. [38217]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Mr. John Bowis)

Responsibility for the care of children rests with the placing local authority.

Ms Coffey

As the Minister will be aware, the recent study by the social services inspectorate showed that a high proportion of private, small, unregisterable children's homes did not meet acceptable standards. The Minister has the power to legislate to ensure that those homes are properly inspected and registered, as happens with all other children's homes. Why will he not do so when his own inspectors have told him that children are at risk in those homes?

Mr. Bowis

As the hon. Lady knows from our persistent duet across the House on the subject, this is a matter that our overall review of inspection will be considering. In the meantime, she is quite wrong to suggest that the social services inspectorate report did anything other than highlight some good practice among small children's homes as well as some poor practice. It also highlighted that the failure was of local authorities to use their powers under the placement of children regulations—regulations designed to protect children wherever they may be placed.

Lady Olga Maitland

Will my hon. Friend confirm that his Department will keep constant vigilance over local authority social services, reminding them of their statutory duty to carry out rigorous inspections of children's homes?

Mr. Bowis

Yes, my hon. Friend is right. Sadly, we have recently seen the results of occasions on which such duties have not been carried out properly. There is a duty on local authorities to inspect and visit children's homes, and a responsibility on elected councillors to ensure that that happens. Everyone associated with a child in the care of any local authority anywhere has a responsibility to ensure that the child is safe and protected and that, if the child needs help, help is brought to him or her.