HC Deb 30 April 1973 vol 855 c247W
Dame Joan Vickers

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the murder of Maria Colwell, if he will now implement the recommendations of the Houghton Committee on adoption.

Sir K. Joseph

I have been asked to reply.

The report as a whole raises complex issues which the Government are studying carefully before coming to any conclusions. On the information available it is doubtful whether changes in the law would have helped in this sad case.