HC Deb 08 November 1978 vol 957 cc192-4W
Mr. David Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many supervision orders under the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 were in operation by the social service departments of county councils on 1st March in each year since the Act came into operation; and how many of these supervision orders had been allocated to particular social workers, giving figures on a county basis.

Mr. Moyle

The numbers of supervision orders under the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 in operation by the social services departments of non-metropolitan county councils in England on 31st March in each year are given below:

1975 7,165
1976 8,738
1977 9,069

Figures for 31st March 1978 are not yet available.

The numbers of supervision orders in operation by the social service departments of county councils in England on 31st March for earlier years are given below. They are not comparable with the figures for later years because of the changes brought about by local government reorganisation in April 1974:

1975 2,716
1973 3,910
1974 5,068

Information is not available centrally on the allocation of supervision orders to particular social workers.

Mr. David Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the supervision orders made by the Basingstoke Magistrates' Court requiring persons aged between 10 and 13 years to be supervised by social service workers were not allocated to specific social workers in the year ended March 1978.

Mr. Moyle

Of the 18 supervision orders made by Basingstoke magistrates' court in the year ending 31st March 1978 requiring persons aged between 10 and 13 years to be supervised by social service workers by 31st March; one of these two orders was made on 30th March.

Mr. David Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many court supervision orders under the Children and Young benches in England in each year since the Act came into operation, in respect of children aged between 10 and 13 years; and whether he is satisfied that the statutory requirements are being carried out efficiently.

Mr. Moyle

The numbers of supervision orders under the Children and Young persons Act 1969 made by juvenile benches each year since the Act came into operation in respect of children aged between 10 and 13 years is given

CHILD ADDITIONS PAID TO CLAIMANTS RECEIVING WIDOWED MOTHER'S ALLOWANCE, INVALIDITY PENSION* AND RETIREMENT PENSION
Date from which payable Addition for first child only Single person's adult rate (2) as a percentage of (3) Married couple's adult rate (2) as a percentage of (5)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
£ £ Per cent. £ Per cent.
July 1948 0.37½ 1.30 28.85 2.10 17.86
September 1951 0.50 1.50 33.33 2.50 20.00
July 1952 0.52½ 1.62½ 32.31 2.70 19.44
May 1955 0.57½ 2.00 28.75 3.25 17.69
February 1958 0.75 2.50 30.00 4.00 18.75
April 1961 0.87½ 2.87½ 30.43 4.62½ 18.92
March 1963 1.00 3.37½ 29.63 5.45 18.35
January 1965 1.12½ 4.00 28.13 6.50 17.31
October 1967 1.25 4.50 27.78 7.30 17.12
April 1968 1.40 4.50 31.11 7.30 19.18
November 1969 1.55 5.00 31.00 8.10 19.14
September 1971 2.95 6.00 49.17 9.70 30.41
October 1972 3.30 6.75 48.89 10.90 30.28
October 1973 3.80 7.75 49.03 12.50 30.40
July 1974 4.90 10.00 49.00 16.00 30.63
April 1975 5.65 11.60 48.71 18.50 30.54
November 1975 6.50 13.30 48.87 21.20 30.66
November 1976 7.45 15.30 48.69 24.50 30.41
April 1977 6.45† 15.30 42.16 24.50 26.33
November 1977 7.40† 17.50 42.29 28.00 26.43
April 1978 6.10‡ 17.50 34.86 28.00 21.79
November 1978 6.35§ 19.50 32.56 31.20 20.35
* Invalidity benefit was introduced in September 1971.
† Child benefit of £1.00 payable in addition.
‡ Child benefit of £2.30 payable in addition.
§ Child benefit of £3.00 payable in addition.

The table does not include additions for second and subsequent children which, until April 1978, were reduced to take account of family allowances/child benefit payable for these children and were therefore lower than the first child rate. Since April 1978, the same rate has been payable for each qualifying child, whatever its position in the family.

below. The figures cover both England and Wales:

Year No. of Persons
1971 7,090
1972 6,608
1973 6,421
1974 6,936
1975 6,381
1976 5,604
1977 5,605

I have no reason to suspect that the statutory requirements are not being carried out as efficiently as possible within the resources available.