§ Mr. Eggarasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has reviewed the future of the Children's Committee; and what conclusion he has reached.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinThe previous Administration established the Children's Committee in 1978 to advise it on
the coordination and development of health and personal social services as they relate to children and families with children".This arrangement was to be reviewed after three years.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are most grateful to the chairman of the committee, Professor F. S. W. Brimblecombe, and to the members for the energy and enthusiasm which they have brought to their work. However, the Government's policy is to retain only those non-departmental public bodies which are clearly essential and we do not consider that the Children's Committee passes this test. We have, therefore, decided to extend its term of office only until October, in order to enable it to complete a number of reports and studies which are already well advanced. We are inviting the National Children's Bureau to take on some of its work which is less far advanced.
Although we do not see a need for a permanently-constituted body reporting direct to Government, we wish to encourage the co-operation and development of children's services by local authorities and the health authorities, which have direct responsibility for providing them, and by voluntary bodies. With its widely representative membership, the National Children's Bureau is well-placed to play a part in continuing and developing the work initiated by the Children's Committee and in disseminating the results.