§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if, in the light of the recent registered homes tribunal decision in respect of Wiltshire county council's deregistration of the Westgate private aged persons' home in Swindon, he will as a matter of urgency issue guidance to local authorities as to whether, under the provisions of the Registered Homes Act, they should continue to regard proprietors with convictions for theft as unsuitable for registration purposes.
§ Mrs. CurrieThis tribunal decision demonstrates the need for authorities to take into account all the circumstances of a home and of the person registered in relation to it including any convictions in deciding on the suitability of a person for registration. We do not think that it would be useful to issue general guidance specifically on the subject of convictions for theft.