Children Act 1989 (c. 41)

Part XI E+W+S Secretary of State’s Supervisory Functions and Responsibilities

83 Research and returns of information. E+W

(1) The Secretary of State may conduct, or assist other persons in conducting, research into any matter connected with—

(a) his functions, or the functions of local authorities, under the enactments mentioned in subsection (9);

[F1 (aa) the functions of Local Safeguarding Children Boards;]

(b) the adoption of children; or

(c) the accommodation of children in a [F2 care home or independent hospital].

(2) Any local authority may conduct, or assist other persons in conducting, research into any matter connected with—

(a) their functions under the enactments mentioned in subsection (9);

[F3 (aa) the functions of Local Safeguarding Children Boards;]

(b) the adoption of children; or

(c) the accommodation of children in a [F2 care home or independent hospital].

(3) Every local authority shall, at such times and in such form as the Secretary of State may direct, transmit to him such particulars as he may require with respect to—

(a) the performance by the local authority of all or any of their functions—

(i) under the enactments mentioned in subsection (9); or

(ii) in connection with the accommodation of children in a [F2 care home or independent hospital]; and

(b) the children in relation to whom the authority have exercised those functions.[F4 ; and

(c) the performance by the Local Safeguarding Children Board established by them under the Children Act 2004 of all or any of its functions.]

(4) Every voluntary organisation shall, at such times and in such form as the Secretary of State may direct, transmit to him such particulars as he may require with respect to children accommodated by them or on their behalf.

[F5 (4A) Particulars required to be transmitted under subsection (3) or (4) may include particulars relating to and identifying individual children.]

(5) The Secretary of State may direct the [F6 [F7 designated officer for]] each magistrates’ court to which the direction is expressed to relate to transmit—

(a) to such person as may be specified in the direction; and

(b) at such times and in such form as he may direct,

such particulars as he may require with respect to proceedings of the court which relate to children.

(6) The Secretary of State shall in each year lay before Parliament a consolidated and classified abstract of the information transmitted to him under subsections (3) to (5).

(7) The Secretary of State may institute research designed to provide information on which requests for information under this section may be based.

(8) The Secretary of State shall keep under review the adequacy of the provision of child care training and for that purpose shall receive and consider any information from or representations made by—

(a) the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work;

(b) such representatives of local authorities as appear to him to be appropriate; or

(c) such other persons or organisations as appear to him to be appropriate,

concerning the provision of such training.

(9) The enactments are—

(a) this Act;

(b) the Children and Young Persons Acts 1933 to 1969;

(c) section 116 of the M1 Mental Health Act 1983 (so far as it relates to children looked after by local authorities);

[F8 (ca) Part 1 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002;

(cb) the Children Act 2004;

(cc) the Children and Young Persons Act 2008.]

(d) F9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 83(1)(aa) inserted (12.2.2009 for E. and 26.4.2010 for W.) by Children and Young Persons Act 2008 (c. 23), ss. 33(2), 44; S.I. 2009/268, art. 3(1)(e); S.I. 2010/1329, art. 2(n)

F2 Words in s. 83(1)(c)(2)(c)(3)(a)(ii) substituted (1.4.2002) by 2000 c. 14, ss. 116, 122, Sch. 4 para. 14(19); S.I. 2001/4150, art. 3(3)(a) (subject to transitional provision in art. 4 of the commencing S.I. and to the amendment of art. 3 by S.I. 2002/1493, art. 6); S.I. 2002/920, art. 3(3)(b) (with art. 3(4)-(10) (subject to transitional provisions in Schs. 1-3)

F3 S. 83(2)(aa) inserted (12.2.2009 for E. and 26.4.2010 for W.) by Children and Young Persons Act 2008 (c. 23), ss. 33(3), 44; S.I. 2009/268, art. 3(1)(e); S.I. 2010/1329, art. 2(n)

F4 S. 83(3)(c) and preceding word inserted (12.2.2009 for E. and 26.4.2010 for W.) by Children and Young Persons Act 2008 (c. 23), ss. 33(4), 44; S.I. 2009/268, art. 3(1)(e); S.I. 2010/1329, art. 2(n)

F5 S. 83(4A) inserted (1.3.2005 for E. and 1.4.2006 for W.) by Children Act 2004 (c. 31), s. 54; S.I. 2005/394, art. 2(1)(h); S.I. 2006/885, art. 2(2)(e)

F6 Words in s. 83(5) substituted (1.4.2001) by 1999 c. 22, s. 90, Sch. 13 para. 160 (with s. 107, Sch. 14 para. 7(2)); S.I. 2001/916, art. 2(a)(ii)

F7 Words in s. 83(5) substituted (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), s. 109(1), Sch. 8 para. 336; S.I. 2005/910, art. 3(y)

F8 S. 83(9)(ca)-(cc) inserted (12.2.2009 for E. and 26.4.2010 for W.) by Children and Young Persons Act 2008 (c. 23), ss. 33(5), 44; S.I. 2009/268, art. 3(1)(e); S.I. 2010/1329, art. 2(n)

F9 S. 83(9)(d) repealed (5.10.2005) by The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (Consequential Provisions) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2078), art. 16, Sch. 3

Commencement Information

I1 S. 83 wholly in force at 14.10.1991 see s. 108(2)(3) and S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)

Marginal Citations

M1 1983 c. 20.