§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will direct area child protection committees to undertake monitoring of the scale of the problem of young runaways in each area and ensure that proper inter-agency arrangements are in place to respond effectively.
§ Mr. BowisGovernment guidance on the role and functions of area child protection committees—ACPCs—is given in "Working Together under the Children Act 1989" and we have no plans to issue specific guidance to ACPCs on young runaways. Copies of the guidance are available in the Library.
§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what response she has made to the report of the Children's Society on young runaways, a copy of which has been sent to her.
§ Mr. BowisThe Department has just received a copy of the report of the Children's Society on young runaways and will study it with interest.