B I L L

TO
Require the Secretary of State to establish a national strategy to safeguard
runaway and missing children; to make provision for the collection and
reporting of information about runaway and missing children and for related
co-ordination between local authorities and other bodies; and for connected
purposes.
E IT ENACTED by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and
consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present
Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 “Runaway and missing children”
(1) In this Act “runaway and missing children” includes any child or young
person under the age of eighteen who—
(a) has run away or is staying away from the person who is responsible for
that child, or
(b) has left home due to rejection by the person who is responsible for that
child, or
(c) has been unlawfully taken away or is being unlawfully kept away from
the person who is responsible for that child, or
(d) is missing.

2 Duty of Secretary of State in relation to runaway and missing children
(1) It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State by regulations—
(a) to promote the establishment of a national strategy and service
framework to safeguard runaway and missing children; and
(b) to make such provision as the Secretary of State considers appropriate
for the collection and reporting of information about runaway and
missing children.

3 Regulations
(1) The power of the Secretary of State to make regulations under section 2 is
exercisable by statutory instrument.
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Safeguarding 2 Runaway and Missing Children Bill
(2) A statutory instrument containing regulations under section 2 is subject to
annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

4 Expenses
There shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament—
(a) any expenditure under this Act of the Secretary of State, and
(b) any increase attributable to this Act in the sums payable out of money so
provided under any other enactment.

5 Short title, commencement and extent
(1) This Act may be cited as the Safeguarding Runaway and Missing Children Act
2007.
(2) This Act shall come into force at the end of the period of two months beginning
with the day on which it is passed.
(3) This Act extends to England and Wales only.
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Bill 47 (xxxxxx) 54/2
Safeguarding Runaway and Missing Children Bill

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A
B I L L
To require the Secretary of State to establish a national strategy to safeguard
runaway and missing children; to make provision for the collection and
reporting of information about runaway and missing children and for related
co-ordination between local authorities and other bodies; and for connected
purposes.

Ordered to be brought in by Helen Southworth
supported by
Ann Coffey, Dan Norris, John Battle,
Mr Barry Sheerman, Mr Kevin Barron,
Mr John Denham, Ann Keen, Ms Dari Taylor,
Jane Kennedy, Mr Stewart Jackson
and Mr Paul Burstow.
Ordered, by The House of Commons,
to be Printed, 17th January 2007.