§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by Her Majesty's Government to establish and develop positive child care policies to date; and if he will make a statement outlining his proposals for future child care initiatives.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Government's positive child care policies have been reflected in legislation over a number of years culminating in the Children Act 1989 which updates and consolidates previous child care legislation in respect of England and Wales and will be implemented in October 1991. Regulations and guidance will follow as part of the process of implementing the Act. In addition, the Government have set up a number of specific initiatives in the child care field in England including a central training initiative on child abuse; the extension of the training support programme to inclde local authority child care staff; a central training initiative to promote the development of work with children who have been abused and young perpetrators of abuse; and a new under-fives initiative to fund local projects for young children and their families.