§ Mrs. GoldingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment the Government have made of the quality of services provided to young people in the care of local authorities;
(2) what monitoring work is being undertaken on provision made under sections 20 to 26 of the Children Act 1989.
§ Mr. YeoMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's report on the first year of the Children Act 1989 is due to be presented to Parliament early in 1993 and will refer to services under sections 20 to 26.
As part of our strategy for monitoring the Act, we are collecting information covering children looked after by local authorities under section 20.
The Department's research programme includes studies covering the implementation of the requirements of section 20 regarding provision of accommodation and section 24 on preparing children for leaving care and supporting them after they have left. The studies will identify policies and practices which are supportive to young people leaving care.
The social services inspectorate is currently planning inspections of services for children in need and children with disabilities, and on representations and complaints procedures.