§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those sections of the Children Act 1975 which have not been implemented in Scotland.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe following sections of the Act which apply to Scotland have not yet been implemented
1, 2, 9, 14–16, 18–20, 22(1), (2) and (3), 23, 25, 47–55, 66, 70, 78, 80, 95–97 and 102.Relevent paragraphs in schedules 3 and 4 consequential to these sections also remain to be implemented.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those sections of the Children Act 1975 not as yet implemented in Scotland but upon which consultation is taking or has taken place; and if he will report the outcome of such consultation.
§ Mr. John MacKayConsultation has been taking place about implementation of the following sections:
- (a) 14–16 and 23: freeing for adoption.
- (b) 9, 18, 20, 22(3) and regulations under section 103: reports to courts, supervison of placements and appointments of curators ad litem.
- (c) 19, 22(1) and (2) and 25: minor changes in adoption proceedings.
- (d) 80: reviews of children in care.
- (e) 66: safeguarding children's interests before the children's hearings and in consequential proceedings in the Sheriff Court.
- (f) 78: safeguarding children's interests before Sheriffs in proceedings relating to the assumption of parental rights.
The resource implications for local authorities of implementing groups (a) to (d) in whole or in part have been examined in detail, and I am considering the outcome. A survey is presently being conducted of the likely extent to which the provisions in (e) to (f) would be used and the extra costs involved.