§ Dr. Vaughanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what stage has been reached in the development of intermediate treatment for children in trouble.
§ Sir K. JosephChildren's regional planning committees have been making the necessary arrangements under the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 with voluntary and statutory bodies in their areas for the provision of a range of approved facilities for intermediate treatment. Over half the committees have now submitted their schemes, and I am glad to say that the scheme for Planning Area No. 2, Yorkshire, is being brought into force with effect from today, 2nd July 1973. This is a beginning; I hope that other schemes will follow over the next few months. The introduction of intermediate treatment will give juvenile courts in the area concerned a new and valuable option and is another landmark in the development of services for children.