HC Deb 03 June 1981 vol 5 cc357-8W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take urgent steps to ban all corporal punishment of children in care; and if he will make a statement.

Sir George Young

The Department advised local authorities in 1978 against the use of corporal punishment in community homes and most no longer permit it. I am encouraged by this general tendency of local authorities to give it up and to turn to other ways of maintaining effective control and discipline. Nevertheless, it is the authorities that have the responsibility of running the homes, and their staff have the problem of caring for children with whom the community has failed to cope. I do not think it right to legislate on a particular method of control, particularly as authorities now have the benefit of the report of the working party on control and discipline. This provides valuable insights into the nature of good personal and professional relationships between staff and children in community homes and should allay fears that the abandonment of corporal punishment could make the task of staff in some homes impossible. I think that authorities and staff will be impressed by its persuasive and constructive approach at a professional level, and I prefer to rely on this rather than on legislation.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many instances of corporal

Sir George Young

The number of perinatal deaths—stillbirths and deaths under one week—and rates per 1,000 total births of west Midlands regional health authority and its constituent area health authorities are shown win the following table. Comparable figures for the years prior to 1974 are not available.

punishment of children in care have been reported to him over the past year; and if he is satisfied that his Department's advice is being adhered to by local authorities.

Sir George Young

Local authorities are not required to report such instances to me, but I was made aware recently of some 15 cases in one local authority which., I understand, has since abandoned the use of corporal punishment. Although the Department has advised against the use of corporal punishment, we consider that final discretion should rest with individual local authorities who have responsibility for running community homes.