§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what efforts are currently being made by her Department to monitor the implementation of her Department's guidelines on the establishment of complaints procedures within independent schools.
§ Mr. BowisIndependent schools which are children's homes are required by the Representations Procedure (Children) Regulations 1991 to set up a representations procedure with an independent element to consider complaints and other representations made by or on behalf of children accommodated by them but not looked after by local authorities.
Other independent schools with boarding pupils are expected, in fulfilling their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children accommodated by them, to have a procedure to enable the children to raise concerns which cannot be dealt with informally and to raise these with an independent person if necessary.
The social services inspectorate reviews local authorities' inspections of these schools.