§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to introduce a national at-risk register to co-ordinate those lists which exist at a local level. [27239]
§ Jacqui SmithA central register is maintained for each area covered by a social services department. The register lists all the children resident in the area (including those who have been placed there by another local authority or agency) who are considered to be at continuing risk of significant harm, and for whom there is a child protection plan.
"Working Together to Safeguard Children" implemented better ways of making sure these registers link up together more effectively when a child moves from place to place. Since the publication of "Working Together" in December 1999, it has been the case that if a child and family have moved permanently to another local authority area, the receiving local authority should convene a child protection conference within 15 working days of being notified of the move. Only once this has taken place may de-registration take place in respect of the original local authority's child protection register.
We have no plans at present to introduce a national risk register.