§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations he has received in response to his consultative paper on child care law; and when he intends to introduce legislation based on the proposals contained therein;
(2) whether he intends to introduce legislation based on the proposals contained in his recent consultative paper on child care law before a decision is taken on the introduction of a system of family courts.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe report of the interdepartmental working party reviewing child care law was published in October as a consultative document on which comments were sought by 15 January. A decision on the next steps will be taken in the light of responses to the consultative document. The establishment of family courts is a separate issue and is for my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy on the prevention of child abuse; what funds are devoted to it; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyOur policy on the prevention of child abuse is that the interests of the child must come first and276W that the agencies, and their staff, concerned with child abuse must keep that as their main objective in working with children who have been abused or who are at risk. Successful prevention must depend largely on the knowledge and skill of professional staff, and their adherence to thorough and agreed local procedures for co-ordination and action. The Government already have in hand a programme of work to help prevent child abuse cases and improve their handling. This includes a review of child care law, of the procedures for handling abuse cases, and of inquiries that follow serious abuse cases; the development of better methods to review the situation of all children in care; and the use of the Department's social services inspectorate to improve the supervision and management of social workers involved in child abuse cases. It is, however, not practicable to identify and total the overall expenditure on activities that involve staff in the range of agencies involved in child abuse work.