§ [No. 144]
§ Clause 57, page 36, line 3, leave out paragraph (a).
§ 9.35 p.m.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, with the permission of the House I should like to take together Amendment No. 144 with No. 169 which relate to Scotland. Amendment No. 144 is a paving Amendment to No. 169 which transfers to Section 20 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 the general duty on local authorities in respect of children in their care. This duty requires the local authority in reaching any decision relating to a child in their care to give first consideration to the need to promote the welfare of the child and for this purpose to ascertain his wishes and feelings so far as may be practicable. It is appropriate that this duty should appear in Section 20 of the 1968 Act which deals with all children in care regardless of whether they came into care by voluntary arrangements under Section 15 or otherwise. I know that this is in harmony with the wishes of the noble Baroness, Lady Elliot of Harwood. My Lords, I beg to move.
§ Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment. —(Lord Winterbottom.)
§ Baroness ELLIOT of HARWOODMy Lords, I entirely agree with this. This is exactly what I have always wanted and I am delighted to find this provision in the Bill.