HC Deb 16 January 1980 vol 976 cc756-7W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his Department's participation in the International Year of the Child; what work was carried out by his Department in connection with the International Year of the Child; and what further follow-up studies are being planned for 1980.

Sir George Young

The Department took the lead in co-ordinating the Government's response to the International year of the Child, including regular liaison with the United Kingdom Association for the International Year of the Child, which organised the national programme for the year, with the help of a Government grant of £138,000 over a two-year period for administrative expenses.

The year was marked by the following major events organised by the Department:

  1. (1) a study conference in May for about 50 people, organised jointly with the Department of Education and Science and the National Children's Bureau, on preparation for parenthood;
  2. (2) a conference in July for over 800 people on the intermediate treatment of young offenders in the community;
  3. (3) a conference in December for about 250 people, organised jointly with the Children's Committee, on the reduction of perinatal mortality and morbidity.

All three conferences were successful in focussing attention on topics to which my right hon. Friend attaches great importance. The proceedings of the first conference have recently been published. Those for the other conferences will be published shortly. The Department approved the following grants in support of projects connected with the Year:

  1. (1) £9,900 to the United Kingdom Assocation for a feasibility study on the establishment of a children's legal centre;
  2. (2) £15,000 to the National Children's Bureau for the project "The Condition of Children" which has two main objectives: —
    1. (a) a compilation of a register of sources of statistical information on children in the United Kingdom;
    2. (b) the preparation of detailed commentaries on particular subjects to describe the condition of children in those subject areas;
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  3. (3) £3,900 to the United Kingdom Assocation to produce a pamphlet "Whose Child" on the rights of children in care.

During 1980 the Department will continue to support worthwhile projects in this and similar fields as occasion arises, and to take other initiatives in pursuance of its general responsibilities for children.