HC Deb 22 February 1995 vol 255 cc220-1W
Mr. Boateng

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will(a) ask or (b) require all Ministers to publish family impact statements with all major policy announcements and new legislation to make clear their intended effect on the law relating to, and the welfare of, children and the family.

Mr. Bowis

The Government make clear the intended effect of policy and legislative proposals in consultative papers and reports.

Mr. Boateng

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all the Cabinet committees, ministerial groups and interdepartmental committees of officials, together with respective members, which have responsibility for co-ordinating Government policy on the law relating to children and the family.

Mr. Bowis

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Sir N. Fowler) on 22 November 1994 at columns89–96, which gave details of Cabinet committees and their membership. The ministerial groups and interdepartmental committees of officials with a role in the co-ordination of Government policy on the law relating to children and the family are as shown:

  • Family Law Administration Working Party;
  • Inter-departmental Group on Child Abuse;
  • Steering Groups on Child Evidence;
  • Inter-departmental Consultative Group on Provision for Young Children;
  • Ministerial Group on Domestic Violence;
  • Official Group on Domestic Violence;
  • Ministerial Group on Crime Prevention;
  • Official Group on Crime Prevention;
  • 221
  • Official Group on Reducing Criminality;
  • Children Act Advisory Group.