§ Mr. Stanleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to providing wider powers to the police to trace snatched children, in the light of the statement in the House, Official Report, 23rd March, c. 1845, by the hon. Member for Halifax (Dr. Summerskill).
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI have confirmed with the Department of Health and Social314W Security that information from social security records is available to the police not only for criminal investigations but also to assist in tracing a missing child. A circular will be issued to chief officers of police shortly to draw attention to this facility.
§ Mr. Stanleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had on the possibility of providing local education authorities with descriptions of children who have been snatched.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI have made some inquiries as to this possibility but have concluded that since there are some 20,000 schools, it would not be a practicable way of tracing snatched children.
§ Mr. Stanleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had to ensure that local social security officers have clear instructions that they may make an exception to the normal rules of confidentiality to help parents, guardians, courts or the police when they ask for the address of a snatched child.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security that social security officers will give what assistance they can in appropriate cases, and that there are standing instructions to this effect.