HC Deb 27 February 2002 vol 380 cc1422-3W
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which Minister is responsible for the area child protection committees. [37775]

Jacqui Smith

Area child protection committees are inter-agency forums for agreeing how the different services and professional groups should co-operate to safeguard children in their area. They are not statutory bodies, but are accountable for their work to their main constituent agencies. They are therefore not accountable to any Secretary of State. Each local authority with social services responsibility should take lead responsibility for the establishment and effective working of ACPCs. Local authorities are ultimately accountable to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health in respect of their social services functions.