HL Deb 08 November 1989 vol 512 cc858-9

291 Schedule 2, page 78, line 13, after 'take', insert 'reasonable'.

292 Page 78, line 20, leave out 'wardship proceedings' and insert 'proceedings under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court with respect to children'.

The Lord Chancellor

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 291 and 292 en bloc.

Paragraph 6 of Schedule 2 forms part of the range of preventive duties provided for in the Bill. It would require local authorities to take steps to reduce the need to bring proceedings in respect of children in their area. We wish to insert the word "reasonable", so that local authorities should take reasonable steps under paragraph 6.

Amendment No. 292 to the same paragraph would extend the duty of local authorities to take reasonable steps to reduce the need to bring wardship proceedings to cover all proceedings under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court with respect to children. The latter phrase is comprehensive: it includes wardship and also the residual powers regarding injunctions, for example.

Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in the said amendments. —(The Lord Chancellor.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.