§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what Government-funded research into the sexual abuse of children(a) has taken place since 1979, (b) is currently taking place and (c) is under consideration, giving the cost of each project listed.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe Department of Health and Social Services has provided £46,250 to finance the Northern Ireland children's study. The study, undertaken by a research team from the department of child psychiatry at the Royal Belfast hospital for sick children and the department of community medicine and medical statistics at the Queen's university of Belfast, investigates the incidence and prevalence of child sexual abuse in Northern Ireland. The findings should be published later this year. Proposals for following up the study by further research into questions about the incidence of child sexual abuse in Northern Ireland are being considered.