§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce legislation to amend section 4 of Children Act 1989 to provide for a duty to assist. [74726]
§ Mr. HuttonAs announced in the Response to the Children's Safeguards Review on 5 November 1998, the Government intend legislating to replace the current power to assist under Section 24 of the Children Act 1989 with a duty to assess and meet the needs of care leavers up to the age of 18 and will study the costs, limitations and affordability of extending this duty until the young person reaches the age of 21.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the impact of Quality Protects plans on inter-departmental co-ordination between housing and social services departments; and if he will make a statement on the enforcement of existing rules under the Children Act 1989. [74723]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Quality Protects programme is directed at the local authority as a whole, including housing and social services departments, and is intended to promote corporate commitment to delivering improved services for children. Management Action Plans submitted to the Department by local authorities are currently being evaluated, and progress in implementation will be monitored by the Government. The Government have also stated in the White Paper "Modernising Social Services" their intention to place a duty on the local authority as a whole in planning children's services and for all parties to participate in and take responsibility for their delivery.