asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will draw up a statutory instrument, with similar provisions to Statutory Instrument 1377 of 1955, to extend supervision to children under the Mental Health Act 1959.

I will consider this at a suitable opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will issue a directive to local authorities to use the powers of the Children's Act 1948 when a mentally handicapped child is placed in residential accommodation.

No, but local authorities have power to receive mentally handicapped children into care for the same reasons as other children.