§ Dr. Strossasked the Lord Privy Seal how many establishments exist in England and Wales where children are maintained apart from their parents and which are not subject to inspection by any Government Department; and what steps are proposed to make inspection possible.
§ Mr. Arthur GreenwoodThe only establishments of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers are children's homes which, because they are not supported wholly or partly by voluntary contributions or for other reasons, are not "voluntary homes" within the meaning of Section 92 of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, and which do not take Poor Law children. The number of such homes must be small compared with the number which are subject to inspection but no figures are available. Those which take children under nine years of age "for reward" are visited by the welfare authorities' child protection visitors under the Public Health Acts. The Care of Children Committee have recommended the extension of the scope of public care to cover children in institutions not subject to public supervision, and this recommendation will receive careful consideration.