HC Deb 30 January 1996 vol 270 c729W
Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of state for Scotland if he will make a statement on the necessary implications for the new unitary authorities of the implementation of the Children (Scotland) Act. [11618]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Many of the provisions in the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 require significant preparation and training if they are to be successfully implemented. For this reason, the views of a number of organisations, including the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, were taken into account in setting a date of April 1997 for the implementation of those provisions involving local authorities.