§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list his Department's responsibilities relating to children and the statutes from which these arise showing which branch or division within his Department and which Ministers deals with each of these responsibilties; who is responsible for coordinating the various responsibilities relating to children within his Department; and who is responsible for co-ordinating his responsibilities for children with those of other Departments.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinMy responsibilities relating to children in the fields of health and personal social services are mainly derived from and specified in the National Health Service Act 1977, the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970, the Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act 1948, the Children Acts 1948, 1972 and 1975, the Children and Young Persons Acts 1933–69 and the Employment of Children Act 1973. I have asked my hon. Friend the Minister for Health and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State to assist me in the exercise of these responsibilities. The division primarily concerned is the children's division, which works in close association with other administrative and professional divisions.
390WIn the field of social security, my responsibilities—and those of the relevant statutory authorities—are mainly set out in the Family Income Supplements Act 1970, the Social Security Acts 1975–79, the Child Benefit Act 1975 and the Supplementary Benefits Act 1976. I have asked my right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State to assist me in the exercise of these responsibilities. Provision for children in the various social security benefits is a matter for the divisions concerned with these benefits.
My colleagues and I are personally frequently involved in discussing matters affecting children with Ministers in other Departments and there are many links at official level.