§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will establish a formal inquiry into residential child care provision run by Buckinghamshire county council social services department; and if she will make a statement;
(2) what reports she has received from the social services inspectorate with regard to child care provision in Buckinghamshire; what action has been taken as a consequence; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. BowisI have not received any reports from the social services inspectorate with regard to child care provision in Buckinghamshire. I have received a copy of a letter from Buckinghamshire social services to the editor ofThe Independent in response to newspaper stories in that paper, which I understand has been copied to the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett).
The social services inspectorate will be carrying out one of its regular inspections in Buckinghamshire in the next few months and will, no doubt, report back to me if it has any concerns.
If the hon. Gentleman has any evidence of which he thinks it or I should be aware, I should be grateful if he would forward this to me without delay.
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