HC Deb 09 March 1966 vol 725 c571W
111. Mrs. Joyce Butler

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will appoint an inquiry to examine the circumstances in which children can be taken from normal homes into care.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

A court has power to make an order committing a child to the care of a local authority only if he has been found guilty of an offence punishable in the case of an adult with imprisonment; or he is in need of care, protection or control as defined in Section 2 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1963; or the court is satisfied that it is necessary to make such an order for the purpose of securing his regular attendance at school. I do not think that a general inquiry is needed.