§ Clause 31, page 22, line 38, leave out ("and,") and insert ("authorise the Secretary of State to give directions prohibiting the provision for the children in any home of clothing of any description specified in the directions, and impose requirements")
§
Clause 31, page 22, line 40, at end, insert—
("(b) require the furnishing to the Secretary of State of information as to the facilities provided for the parents and guardians of children in the homes to visit and communicate with the children, and authorise the Secretary of State to give directions as to the provision of such facilities;")
§ Clause 31, page 22, line 41, leave out ("limit,") and insert ("give directions limiting")
§
Clause 31, page 22, line 43, at end insert—
("(c) provide for consultation with the Secretary of State as to applicants for appointment to the charge of a home and empower the Secretary of State to prohibit the appointment of any particular applicant therefor except in the cases (if any) in which the regulations dispense with such consultation by reason that the person to be appointed possesses such qualifications as may be prescribed by the regulations.")
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I think we may consider these four Amendments together. Clause 31 empowers the Secretary of State to make 102 regulations as to the conduct of voluntary homes. These Amendments empower the Secretary of State by regulation, (a) to give directions where children are unsuitably clothed, (b) to require information as to facilities for parents and guardians to visit and communicate with their children, and to give directions as to such facilities and (c) to require consultation with him as to the person to be appointed to the charge of a voluntary home on the lines of Clause 15 (4) (d), which your Lordships will remember applies to local authorities. The last of these Amendments is consequential on the others. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That this House do agree with the Commons in the said Amendments.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ THE EARL OF MUNSTERMy Lords I would like to make one reference to the new paragraph (b) which has been moved. As I originally brought to the attention of your Lordships certain hostels or homes which did not provide facilities for the parents to visit children, I rise only to say that I heartily endorse the provision of the new paragraph, and that I hope the Secretary of State will take early powers to arrange for all the facilities that are possible to be provided for parents and guardians to visit their children as often as necessary.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.