§ Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he is aware of petitions calling for the return of a child, whose name has been sent to him, to its foster parents made by citizens of both townships where foster parents and mother reside; and if he will consult the Monmouthshire County Council on the advisability of making an application for the restoration of parental rights in the child to the children's department of the county;
(2) whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the circumstances in 87W which a child under the care of the Monmouthshire County Council, whose name has been sent to him, placed shortly after birth for a continuous period of five years with good foster parents, was seized by the mother, kept under damaging conditions for days, returned to the foster parents, reseized and now has disappeared.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI have consulted the Monmouthshire County Council, who inform me that the child, who is not at present in their care, is with the foster parents with whom she was formerly boarded out by the authority. It is for the Council to judge whether their intervention is required. They are in touch with the parties concerned, and I am satisfied that they are fully aware of their duty to take any action within their powers which appears to them to be called for in the interests of the welfare of the child.