§ Mr. Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were abandoned by their parents and came under the charge of local authorities in each of the last six years; and what percentage in each case were known to be illegitimate.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeThe numbers of children abandoned and received into care by local authorities in England and Wales in each period of twelve months ended 30th November, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 and 1954 were respectively, 1,449, 1,364, 1,521, 1,452 and 1,302. Figures were not obtained for 1949. It is regretted that information is not available as to the numbers of children who were illegitimate.