§ Lord EVANS of CLAUGHTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the decision of the Secretary of State for Social Services not to set up a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Paul Brown can now be reconsidered in view of the continuing widespread concern and dissatisfaction in Wirral and Merseyside about the way in which this small boy came to die from neglect.
§ Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNENo. In reaching his decision earlier this year my right honourable friend had very much in mind the fact that there have already been two inquiries instituted by the Wirral Borough Council into the death of this child and that changes have been identified which are necessary to improve services for children and to prevent another case like that of Paul Brown occurring. Although he was aware of the concern felt by some of the staff of the social services department over the conduct of these inquiries, it was, in his view, vital that the necessary improvements in procedures, staffing levels, training and accommodation, which the Wirral Borough Council already had in train, should be effected, and he has asked for a report on progress at the end of the year.