asked the Minister for Health when the long-promised Children Bill will be published; and the reasons for the extraordinary delay in presenting this long-overdue piece of legislation.
Written Answers. - Children Bill.
448.
Within a few weeks, I expect to be in a position to seek Government approval to the draft scheme of a Children Bill. The Bill will give effect to many of the recommendations of the Task Force on Child Care Services which reported in September 1980 as well as updating most of our existing children legislation. The drafting of the scheme of the Bill has taken longer than was anticipated due to the wide variety of child care policy to be covered and the complexity of some of the issues involved.