HC Deb 20 February 1984 vol 54 cc428-9W
Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many cases of appeals by parents to the courts against decisions to terminate or not grant access under the Child Care Act 1980 were made in the United Kingdom in each year since 1980; and how many of their appeals were upheld;

(2) what was the average length of time of access order issued under the Child Care Act 1980 in the United Kingdom in the last 12 months;

(3) how many access orders were made in the United Kingdom in respect of children in care under the Child Care Act 1980 during the last 12 months for which statistics are available;

(4) how many cases of appeal by parents to the courts against decision to terminate or not to grant access under the Child Care Act 1980 were made, in the last 12 months, in (a) each shire county, (b) each metropolitan county and (c) the Greater London area; and if he will list them by authority.

Mr. Newton

Sections 12A-G of the Child Care Act 1980, which relate to access to children in care, were inserted by section 6 and schedule 1 of the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983. These provisions, with the exception of section 12F(3) and (4) which come into force on 27 May 1984, came into force on 30 January 1984. The information requested is therefore not yet available.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many parents applied for and were refused financial assistance under section 26 of the Child Care Act 1980 in the last 12 months for which statistics are available;

(2) how many parents received financial assistance under section 26 of the Child Care Act 1980 in the last 12 months for which statistics are available.

Mr. Newton

Information is not available centrally in the form requested.