§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to increase the involvement of children in care in decisions relating to their care. [37153]
§ Mr. Win GriffithsIn 1996, the report of the North Wales Child Care Examination Team made a number of recommendations to improve services for children in care.102W One was that local authorities should examine the capacity of their services to take account of children's views. It is clear, from monitoring the progress towards implementation, that most authorities now involve children in care in decisions which affect them. However, I recognise that more needs to be done. The Welsh Office is therefore continuing to press all local authorities towards implementing the Examination Team's report; providing core funding for "Voices from Care", a voluntary organisation which represents children in care; funding children's advocacy projects; and making children's advocacy services one of two priority areas for its Children and Family Services Grant Scheme in 1998–99. The Government will be considering what further measures should be introduced in preparing their response to Sir William Utting's review of safeguards for children living away from home.