HC Deb 02 May 1990 vol 171 cc545-6W
Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investigations his Department is(a) funding and (b) co-operating on in respect of (i) the sexual abuse of children and (ii) the ritual abuse of children.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The Department funds a programme of research into child sexual abuse. An interdepartmental group on child abuse meets regularly to discuss a number of cross-sector policy issues in relation to child protection. The Department also regularly meets those voluntary organisations that it funds. On the issue of ritual abuse, the Department is aware of a number of child sexual abuse networks that have been investigated by social services departments and the police. The Department arranged a meeting in November 1989 with representatives from the NSPCC, Childline, the Children's Society and the Association of Directors of Social Services. A further meeting is to be arranged. The social services inspectorate is continuing to monitor the situation in order to assess the scale and nature of child abuse networks and ritual abuse.

Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring arrangements he has in place to ensure that all guidelines issued to those social workers involved in cases of alleged child abuse incorporate the recommendations of the Butler-Sloss report.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Guidance issued by the Department in relation to child protection takes account of the recommendations of the Butler-Sloss report. The Department's social services inspectorate provide advice and support to local authorities, and as part of their inspection work look at practice in the light of local guidance issued to social workers.

Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what directives he has given to directors of social services arising from the recommendations of the report of the inquiry into child abuse in Cleveland in 1987.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Simultaneously with the publication of the report of the inquiry into child abuse in Cleveland in 1987 the Department of Health issued copies of the document "Working Together: a guide to arrangements for inter-agency co-operation for the protection of children from abuse", under cover of circular LAC(88)10/HC(88)38, copies of which are available in the Library, to statutory agencies in England with responsibilities for child protection. The Home Office and the Department of Education and Science issued complementary ciculars to the police and school service respectively. The guidance document and the circulars took account of the recommendations in the inquiry report.

Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from local authorities about the need for additional funding required for the purpose of training social workers involved in cases of alleged child abuse.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The Department's training support programme has, since 1989–90, included an element for training local authority staff who provide social services for children and their families, including staff who deal with cases of alleged child abuse. All local authority social services departments receive grant aid under the programme in response to bids made to the Department.