§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children on the priority which is given to research into child sexual abuse.
§ Mr. MellorOfficials and the NSPCC meet regularly to discuss subjects of mutual concern, including research. In addition an official from the social services inspectorate attends the NSPCC's professional advisory committee which discusses research issues.
The Department is currently funding a feasibility study being conducted at the National Institute of Social Work in collaboration with the NSPCC to follow up of children who were placed on NSPCC child protection registers in 1981. An outline proposal concerning the evaluation of child protection registers is being considered by the Department. The Department and the NSPCC have also discussed how the NSPCC's register research programme, which has been a major source of information on the incidence of child abuse registrations and the characteristics of abusing families, can best complement the annual statistical survey which the Department now undertakes of children on local authority child protection registers.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times his Department has given evidence to inquiries involving child sexual abuse since 1979.
§ Mr. MellorOnce, at the inquiry into child abuse in Cleveland, 1987.