§ 39. Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of public concern that children privately fostered for many years in secure and satisfactory homes can be arbitrarily removed by natural parents who have for lengthy periods had no contact with their children; and whether, in order to ensure that the welfare of such children shall be the paramount consideration, he will seek to amend the Guardianship of Infants Act, 1925 so that a foster parent may be included in the categories of persons who may be granted custody of a child.
§ Miss BaconI am aware of the concern which has been expressed about some cases of this nature. But I believe that the existing law already provides adequate protection for the welfare of foster children in such circumstances.
§ 40. Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether 320W he is aware the concern by many children's departments of local authorities that children who have been in their care for many years and have been placed in secure foster homes are bound by law to be discharged in response to peremptory demands by feckless parents who for three or more years have had no contact with their children; and whether he will seek to amend the law to enable a children's department to assume parental rights after a child has been in its care for lengthy periods with an opportunity to a parent to obtain restoration of such rights only if it can be shown to be for the welfare of the child.
§ Miss BaconThe law was amended in 1963 to cover the child whose parents persistently fail to discharge their obligations, and local authorities already have powers to deal with such cases. I see serious difficulties in the way of the further amendment suggested.