§ Miss Joan Hallasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of children under two years of age abandoned for the last five years and the number where a parent was traced and charged with an offence.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe following table gives, for the last five years for which statistics are available, information about offences against Section 27 of the Offences against the Person Act, 1861 (abandonment of a child under two years of age whereby his life is endangered or his health is or is likely to be permanently injured). Information about the number of children under two years of age abandoned in other circumstances is not available.
Number of offences known to the police Number of persons proceeded against 1966 17 9 1967 23 6 1968 17 7 1969 15 3 1970 11 4