§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) intends to commission into the cost savings which could be achieved for the NHS relating to effective measures to prevent the physical and emotional abuse of children; [67951]
(2) what recent assessment he has made of the mental health consequences and the costs to the NHS associated with mental health problems consequent upon the physical and emotional abuse of children. [67950]
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§ Jacqui Smith[holding answers 8 July 2002]: No such research has been commissioned or is currently planned. Child and adolescent mental health services would be expected to assess the mental health problems of physically or emotionally abused children who are referred to them and to provide an appropriate service response.
§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement concerning his evaluation of the 24 CAMHS innovation projects. [68163]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 11 July 2002]: Each child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) innovation project is required to submit an annual report, receive annual monitoring visits and be individually evaluated. These individual evaluations are now approaching completion. The Department is working with YoungMinds on an overall evaluation of the programme and this overview report is due to be published in autumn 2002. This report will be launched at a national conference as part of the overall dissemination plan for the CAMHS innovation programme.