XN000022-1983-02-02 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1983

+AS IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO DETERMINE STANDARD GUSTS, INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR SUBVENTIONS FOR CATEGORY I ERVICES WHICH WILL RECEIVE A PERCENTAGE OF RECOGNISED EXPENDITURE BASED ON PREVIOUS LEVELS OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT, ADJUSTED FOR PRICE INCREASES, BUT DISREGARDING ALL INCOME "EXCEPT FEES,+ MR ALLEYNE SAID.

FOR SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY, THIS HAD BEEN FIXED AT 70 PER CENT, AND FOR MULTI-SERVICE CENTRES IT VARIED BETWEEN 70 AND 100 PER CENT DEPENDING ON THE SERVICE, HE SAID.

ASSURANCE GIVEN ON CARE OF CHILDREN BY SWD

***

THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR SELWYN ALLEYNE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) HE WOULD ENSURE THAT A CHILD COMMITTED TO HIS CARE IN MATRIMONIAL PROCEEDINGS WAS ADEQUATELY LOOKED AFTER AND PROVIDED FOR ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. WHERE POSSIBLE, NON-INSTITUTIONAL FORMS OF CARE, SUCH AS A FOSTER HOME, WOULD BE CONSIDERED, HE ADDED.

HE WAS SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHEN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, WHICH CLARIFIES AND EXTENDS THE POWERS OF THE COURT CONCERNING THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN OF A FAMILY INVOLVED IN MATRIMONIAL PROCEEDINGS.

+IN A SMALL BUT GROWING NUMBER OF CASES COMING BEFORE THE COURTS,+ MR ALLEYNE SAID, IT HAS BEEN NOTED THAT IT IS IMPRACTICABLE OR UNDESIRABLE FOR THE CHILD OF A BROKEN MARRIAGE TO BE ENTRUSTED TO THE CARE OF EITHER PARENT OR TO ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL.

ONE EXAMPLE WOULD BE WHERE NEITHER PARENT WILL APPLY FOR CUSTODY AND NO OTHER WILLING AND SUITABLE APPLICANT CAN BE FOUND.

TO SAFEGUARD THE WELFARE OF SUCH CHILDREN, IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE COURTS BE EMPOWERED IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES TO COMMIT THEM TO THE CARE OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE.

SIMILAR PROVISIONS EXIST IN THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES ACT 1973 OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

+EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO MAINTAIN CONTACT BETWEEN THE CHILD AND HIS PARENTS WITH A VIEW TO RETURNING THE CHILD TO THE CARE OF ONE OF THEM AS SOON AS IT IS IN THE CHILD'S BEST INTERESTS TO DO SO, MR ALLEYNE SAID.

THE BILL IMPOSES A DUTY ON A PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF A CHILD UNDER THE SUPERVISION OR CARE OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE TO INFORM THE DIRECTOR OF A CHANGE OF ADDRESS: FAILURE TO DO SO WITHOUT REASONABLE EXCUSE WILL BE AN OFFENCE.

THE BILL ALSO MAKES IT CLEAR THAT A COURT, IN MAKING AN ORDER FOR CUSTODY, CARE OR SUPERVISION OF A CHILD, MUST HAVE REGARD FIRST AND FOREMOST TO THE WELFARE OF THE CHILD, AND IN DOING SO, MUST CONSIDER THE WISHES OF THE CHILD, IF PRACTICABLE, AND ANY MATERIAL INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE COURT, INCLUDING ANY REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

/8