§ 12. Mr. Cyril D. Townsendasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements are made by his Department to record the number of child abuse victims in England and Wales each year.
§ Mr. NewtonThe Department maintains no central records of the number of child abuse victims. The responsibility for the protection of children from abuse lies with local authorities, and the Department has issued guidance on the records that should be kept locally. I am glad to be able to tell my hon. Friend, however, that the Department's child abuse group has now started work on a review of our guidance in this field to revise, improve and consolidate it. We also hope shortly to consult on new guidance about the handling of child abuse inquiries.
§ Mr. TownsendI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply. Does he recall that, way back in 1976, the NSPCC suggested a national register, and events since that date have made it seem a very sensible suggestion? Is there not a clear lack of co-ordination at present?
§ Mr. NewtonI should not want to endorse that specific suggestion at this stage, but I have had a number of useful 132 talks with Dr. Gilmour and others from the NSPCC, and we shall certainly take account of its views and ideas in the course of the review.