§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the professional, scientific and inter-departmental sources, by name or organisation, which are providing advice on child abuse, pursuant to his answer of 14 February.
§ Mr. MellorThe Department has available a number of professional and scientific advisers from whom advice is sought. In addition the Department holds regular meetings with a research liaison group on child care which contains service advisers from the Association of County Councils and the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, at present Mr. John Chant and Mr. Martin Manby and scientific advisers who are at present Professor Graham of Great Ormond Street hospital, Mr. Mervyn Murch of Bristol university, Professor Dorothy Whitaker of York university and Professor Noel Timms of Leicester university. Other Departments normally include the territorial Departments (Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Offices), the Home Office, the Department of Education and Science and the Economic and Social Research Council.