§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will request local authorities to provide statistics on the abuse of disabled children as a subset of the annual figures collected regarding the total number of children registered for abuse.[11413]
§ Jacqui SmithWe already collect statistical information about the abuse of disabled children. Information on the numbers of disabled children in need known to local authority social services departments, and the reason for their being in need (including abuse/ neglect), was collected by the Department as part of the first children in need survey in February 2000. The report is published on the Department's Home Page of the Internet at www.doh.gov.uk/cinresults.htm. A copy of the report is also available in the Library. The survey is being repeated in late 2001, and the results are likely to be available in mid 2002.