§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps are taken by his Department to ensure that contraceptive drugs or devices are not prescribed to children in care without the permission of their legal guardian.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeIt is for local authorities to seek such permissions as are necessary from the parent or legal guardian in respect of the upbringing of children in their care. This will differ according to the legal provisions under which the child has been placed in their care. Local authorities were informed on 21 December 1984, following the judgements of the Court of Appeal in the Gillick case, that our Department's guidance to doctors and other professionals on contraceptive and abortion advice and services to young people under 16 had been suspended.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether any funds have been made available to non-governmental organisations to enable them to intervene in the case before the House of Lords concerning the prescription of contraceptive drugs and devices to children under the age of 16 years.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeNo.