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13
Section 7 of the Act is the section with which Welfare Authorities
are concerned. It makes it the duty of any person (other
than a registered adoption society or a local authority, and not
being the parent or guardian or a near relative of the child or the
person in whose care or possession he is to be placed) who participates
in making arrangements for the adoption of a child under the
age of nine years to give notice in writing of the arrangements to
the Welfare Authority for the area in which the adopter resides,
not less than seven days before the possession is taken of the child
by the adopter. This does not apply when an adoption order is
made.
Furthermore, an adopter must notify a Welfare Authority if he
changes his address, or if the child dies. In the latter event he must
also notify the Coroner.
Certain duties are placed upon the Child Protection Visitors in
regard to visiting and examining the children concerned.
The following statistics have also to be supplied:—
(a) No. of persons who gave notice under Section 7
(3) during the year 0
(b) Total No. of children "adopted" under the section
during the year 0
(c) No. of such children:— 0
(i) Under supervision at the end of the year 0
(ii) Who died during the year 0
(iii) On whom inquests were held during the year 0
(d) Particulars of any proceedings taken during the
year —
(vii) The Care of Illegitimate Children.
Circular 2866 of the Ministry of Health draws attention to the
fact that the Minister of Health had had under special consideration
the problems arising under war conditions in regard to illegitimate
children, and various suggestions were submitted for tackling the
problems, inter alia, that Welfare Authorities should co-operate
with and reinforce the work of existing voluntary moral welfare
associations. It was pointed out that the range of work would be a
wide one, and the appointment of a trained worker experienced in
the special problems which would arise would probably be considered
desirable.
The Circular also stated that County Districts might find it
convenient to arrange for a combination of areas, and, for this
purpose, the County Council might call a Conference of the separate
Welfare Authorities within the County, in order that a joint scheme
might be prepared. Such a Conference was held in December when
the matter was referred back to the individual Authorities for
further consideration.