§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what new research initiatives he is taking into the apparent increased incidence of child abuse.
§ Mr. WhitneyAs part of its continuing programme of research into child care matters the Department is currently funding research to evaluate various types of intervention in cases of child abuse and is in the process of commissioning new research into rehabilitative and supportive therapy in families in which child sexual abuse has occurred. There are no national statistics to show whether there is increased incidence of "child abuse", which is not easily defined. New arrangements for reports proposed in the draft circular "Child Abuse—Working Together" will enable the Department to monitor trends more effectively.