§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of women in custody with their children in 1984 and so far in 1985 who were subsequently separated from their children, giving the age of the child, the disposal of the child and the reason for the separation.
§ Mr. MellorSince 1 January 1984, sixteen women who had their children in custody were subsequently separated from them. Seventeen babies were involved, one aged 24 hours, 10 aged several days, one each aged six weeks, four months, eight months and 10 months and two aged 15 months.
Seven babies were placed with friends or relations, and nine in various forms of care. One baby was separated because it needed hospital care, the mother remaining in 336W custody. Of the other 15 mothers, 12 preferred separation, one mother was transferred to an establishment without a mother and baby unit for disciplinary reasons, one was separated from her baby because of the nature of her offence, and one mother was separated from one of her babies on psychiatric advice and subsequently placed a second in voluntary care.