asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the latest Report from the Children's Department was in 1955; and when a further report can be expected.

The intention is that these Reports should be published every four or five years. The next one is in preparation and I hope it will appear later this year.

As there are 70,000 children in the care of the Home Office Children's Department, is it not reasonable to expect an annual Report? While it is true that many of the children are under the care of children's committees of local authorities, are not some of them —for example, those in the Carlton House Approved School—in the care of managers who form only an ad hoc committee responsible solely to the Home Secretary?

Previous Reports were published in 1938, 1951 and 1955. It had been hoped to publish a Report in 1959, but it was delayed to this year by pressure of work. I will note what the hon. Lady says, but, having studied these Reports, I do not think that an annual Report would be a practical proposition.