§ Mr. Ennalsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give an assurance that, whatever decisions he may take about implementing those unimplemented sections of the Children Act 1975 which will require additional financial resources, he will bring into effect all those provisions which the joint working party of his Department and the local authority associations consider to have no cost implications;
(2) when he will publish the report of the working party set up by his Department and the local authorities association to consider the financial and other implications of the unimplemented clauses of the Children Act 1975;
(3) if he will make a statement about the Government's policy on a timetable for implementing those sections of the Children Act 1975 which have not yet been implemented.
§ Sir George YoungI expect the costing working party's report to be available in the summer. We have already said that our aim would be the speedy introduction of any provisions which can be brought in without extra resources, and I shall institute discussions with the local authority associations, once the report is available, about the priorities and timetable for implementation.
§ Mr. Ennalsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the progress of the working party considering that part of the Children Act 1975 concerning the approval of voluntary organisations.
§ Sir George YoungThe working party on the approval of voluntary adoption societies is making good progress and hopes to report later this year.