§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children in Wales who are registered with local authorities are registered on the child protection register; and if he will make a statement. [85118]
Mr. Jon Owen JonesAs at 31 March 1998, there were 2,473 children on child protection registers in Wales. Figures on the proportion of these which are looked after by local authorities are not held centrally. The Government are taking a number of steps to improve child protection arrangements, including revising the multi-agency guidance, "Working Together Under the Children Act 1989", which will be published later this year. In Wales, this will be subject to the agreement of the National Assembly. Child protection figures for 1999 will be available in the Autumn.