§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider amendments to the Social Work Scotland Act 1968 to make statutory provision for educational resources to be made available to children's panels disposing of references to children's hearings as well as existing social work facilities and professional expertise; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 19 October 1989]: Social work authorities are responsible under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 for implementing compulsory measures of care decided by children's hearings, and I strongly encourage those authorities to co-operate with statutory and voluntary organisations in those cases where the latter have a positive contributon to make. I have no plans to amend social work legislation to oblige other services to provide resources.