§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the four panels of guardians ad litem currently being surveyed by the social services inspectorate; if he will give the terms of reference for this survey; and if he will place a copy of the report of the survey in the Library.
§ Mr. MellorThe social services inspectorate is conducting(a) a postal survey of all panels of guardians ad litem and reporting officers in England and (b) more detailed inspections of panels administered singly by Dorset and Cumbria local authorities and in consortia by Wigan, Salford and Bolton and Leeds, Bradford and Calderdale authorities.
The inspectorate will study demand for the services of panel members and how this is being met including the resources utilised, the skills required and the workloads of individual panel members; examine how individual members fulfil their role and arrangements for monitoring; and report with recommendations of national relevance.
I expect to be able to publish the report later this year.