HC Deb 09 December 1975 vol 902 cc148-9W
35. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many extra facilities for which she is responsible have come into use during the last 12 months in the North West of England Childrens' Region, to help carry out the Children and Young Persons Act 1969.

Dr. Owen

The provision of residential facilities for children in care is the responsibility of local authorities. According to information available to the Department 160 new places have been brought into use in local authority community homes in the North Western Children's Regional Planning Area during the last 12 months. Places in community homes are intended for children in the care of local authorities irrespective of how they came into care. It follows that not all the new places will necessarily be occupied by children committed to care under the Children and Young Persons Act 1969. One former community home in the region is now a centre providing residential treatment for periods of 90 days, a form of treatment introduced by the 1969 Act. It is the first such centre to be established in this country.