§ Lord Balnielasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements exist for a local authority to inform other authorities of the case of any foster parent who has proved unsatisfactory so that the person is not unwittingly engaged as a foster parent in another area.
§ Miss BaconNone, but as required by Regulation 17 of the Boarding-Out of Children Regulations 1955 (S.I. 1955 No. 1377) local authorities make the most careful inquiries—including where necessary consultation with the authorities of other areas—about the reputation, character, and suitability of prospective foster-parents before boarding out a child.
§ Lord Balnielasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent children in the care of local 130W authorities, who would benefit from being boarded out with foster parents, are being looked after in institutions because of the shortage of child care officers.
§ Miss BaconThe shortage of foster-parents in particular areas is due to a number of factors, and is not confined to areas where there is a particular shortage of child care officers. It is impossible to estimate the effect, if any, on the number of children in institutions of an increase in the number of these officers.