HC Deb 12 February 2004 vol 417 c1562
10. Mrs. Ann Cryer (Keighley) (Lab)

What response he has received to the consultation paper "Every Child Matters". [154519]

The Minister for Children (Margaret Hodge)

The response to the Green Paper "Every Child Matters" has been extremely high. We have received more than 4,500 responses, of which I am pleased to say that more than 3,000 were from children and young people. I propose to publish a report shortly, which will set out the way forward.

Mrs. Cryer

Did any of the responses suggest how young girls could be protected from unwanted marriage through early intervention by a school? If not, will guidelines be given to schools to help prevent these tragedies, which happen too frequently?

Mr. Clarke

First, I applaud my hon. Friend's very good work in connection with unwanted marriages in her constituency. She recently wrote me a very long letter on the subject. I have been studying it, and I hope to meet her to discuss the best way to make progress towards tackling what I accept is a difficult and distressing problem for the young women involved.