HC Deb 27 March 1980 vol 981 cc680-1W
Mr. Temple-Morris

asked the Lord Privy Seal what help his Department can provide in recovering children removed abroad by a parent.

Mr. Luce

The only help we can offer is to try to obtain a welfare report on the child from the local authorities in the area concerned. Any question of the custody of such a child is a matter which can only be decided by the courts of the country where the child is present. The return of the child to a parent in this country can be pursued only through legal channels.