asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied that the resources available to county council social service departments are sufficient to enable them to carry out fully and properly their duties in relation to supervision orders made by magistrates under the Children and Young Persons Act 1969.

The allocation of resources to social services departments is a matter for local authorities. It must be accepted, however, that in present circumstances constraints on resources will continue to restrict the ability of local authorities, including county councils, to meet their responsibilities to all children under supervision as fully as they would wish.