§ Miss John Lestorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is able to make a statement on the Government's response to the first report of the Select Committee on violence in the family.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe Government welcome the report and are grateful to the Committee, especially to its Chairman, my hon. Friend the Member for Wood Green (Mrs. Butler) for a major contribution to our understanding of the complex and distressing subject of non-accidental injury to children. We welcome, too, the tribute paid in the report to the efforts being made by all who are working in the field to find solutions to the problem and to the emphasis placed on the part that the community at large can play as good neighbours to help meet the need of parents with young children. The Committee's wide ranging recommendations have implications for a number of Government Departments as well as for local and health authorities, voluntary organisations and all the services and professions concerned. The full and careful consideration these recommendations require will take a little time to complete. We are consulting field authorities and the professional bodies and organisations concerned, and shall present the Government's views to the House as soon as possible thereafter.