HC Deb 15 May 1995 vol 260 cc94-5W
Mr. Robert Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has funded into how best to improve the standard of care, quality of life and outcome for children in care; and if she will make a statement. [23412]

Mr. Bowis

The Department of Health funds an extensive programme of research on child care. The work funded between April 1991 and March 1994 is summarised in "The Centrally Commissioned Research Programme", copies of which are available in the Library. Two research reports which focus specifically on the development of improved methods to assess and monitor outcomes of children in care are the linked HMSO publications—"Looking After Children: Assessing Outcomes in Child Care" and "Looking After Children: Research into Practice". These are also available in the Library.

Mr. Robert Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what funding will be available to local authorities to develop detailed records of assessed needs of children in care; [23411]

(2) what funds she has allocated for the monitoring and assessment system being piloted by 39 local authorities as a follow up to, "Looking After Children: Research into Practice"; and if she will list the authorities involved. [23413]

Mr. Bowis

About £400,000 has been made available in the financial year 1995–96 to support the "Looking After Children: Good Parenting Good Outcomes" project. The 39 authorities listed will receive free forms, training materials, training courses, access to consultants and a helpline. The Department is currently considering whether the same development package of support can be made available to other authorities, if and when they commit themselves to using this system.

  • Bedfordshire
  • Bexley
  • Bradford
  • Bromley
  • Buckinghamshire
  • Camden
  • Cumbria
  • Derbyshire
  • Dudley
  • Durham
  • Gateshead
  • Gloucestershire
  • Hackney
  • Hammersmith and Fulham
  • Hampshire
  • Hereford and Worcestershire
  • Hertfordshire
  • Islington
  • Kensington and Chelsea
  • Kingston
  • Kirklees
  • Lambeth
  • Leicestershire
  • Lewisham
  • Merton
  • Norfolk
  • Northants
  • North Yorkshire
  • Richmond
  • Salford
  • Somerset
  • St. Helens
  • Stockport
  • Suffolk
  • Sunderland
  • Sutton
  • Tower Hamlets
  • Wigan
  • Wolverhampton