asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will urgently re- examine the way in which the child's interests are represented during and after care proceedings, with particular reference to the legal position of children in care who are locked up.

I see no need to review section 64 of the Children Act 1975, which deals with the representation of children in care proceedings. The Department and the local authority associations are together assessing the cost of all those provisions of the Act which have not yet been implemented, including parts of section 64. The Department is also reviewing the Community Homes Regulations 1972, which govern the placement of children in secure accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, how many children are at present in the care of local authorities.

The figures for 1978 will be available shortly and I shall send them to the hon. Member. For the latest published figures I refer the hon. Member to my reply to her on 26 June.—[Vol. 969, c. 120.]