§ Mr. John Huntasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress he has made in discussions about further implementation of the Children Act 1975.
§ Sir George YoungI am pleased to announce that, following consultation with the local authority associations and other representative bodies most concerned, we have now decided on the implementation in England and Wales, probably by the end of next year, of all the provisions which would cost little or nothing extra. For practical reasons we intend to introduce them in two phases, probably as follows:
Phase 1 (probably by the end of 1981)
- Sections 4–7: Approval of adoption societies by the Secretary of State.
- Section 28: Resriction of private placements for adoption.
- Section 32: Approval of experimental schemes for adoption allowances.
- Sections 60–63 (now Sections 64–67 of the Child Care Act 1980): Transfer of parental rights and duties to voluntary organisations.
Phase 2 (probably by the end of 1982)
- Sections 14–16 and 23: Freeing for adoption.
- Sections 9, 18, 20, 22 (3) and regulations under s.103: Child to live with adopters before order made; new arrangements for supervision of placements, reports to courts and guardians ad litem/reporting officers in adoption cases.
- Section 19, 22 (1) and (2) and 25: Minor changes in adoption court proceedings.