Quality Protects (Hansard, 3 December 2002)

§ Jacqui Smith

There is real evidence that Quality Protects is beginning to improve children's lives. For example, since the programme began we have seenMore corporate working across councils and greater understanding of councils' and councillors' role as 'corporate parents'; More partnership working with voluntary organisations; An increase in the proportion of children looked after placed for adoption— 3,400 looked after children were adopted in England in the year to 31 March 2002, 11 per cent, more than in the previous year and 25 per cent, more than in 1999–2000; Children in care experiencing fewer placements— 16 per cent, of children now experience three or more placements in one year as opposed to 19 per cent, in 1997–98; A reduction in the number of re-registrations on the child protection register from 20 per cent, in 1997–98 to 14 per cent, in 2001–02; More support being given to care leavers; More councils listening to children and young people in their care; Improvements in the collecting and use of management information.

We shall shortly be publishing an overview report of councils' fourth annual management action plans, which set out their progress in and future plans for implementing Quality Protects.