asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instigate an immediate inquiry into the number of children reported to the police as runaways from home or local authority care.

Responsibility for investigating reports of missing persons, including children who run away from home or local authority care, is a matter for chief officers of police. The Association of Chief Police Officers has set up a working party to review police procedured for dealing with inquiries relating to missing persons and in the light of its report we will consider the need for action by the Home Office.