§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Prime Minister if he will list the Ministers in each Department with responsibility for(a) programmes, (b) policy and (c) legislation which makes specific reference to children and young people under the age of 18, indicating their titles and responsibilities. [80470]
§ The Prime MinisterProviding opportunities for the welfare and development of children and young people is a priority for Government. We have introduced a range of programmes which include legislation to support children and young people. These are delivered by a number of Ministers across Government. For example, Sure Start and the children's fund in the Department for Education and Skills, children's trusts in the Department for Health, and a range of Home Office initiatives to prevent offending, which include support to parents and families. The Treasury and Department for Work and Pensions also have significant responsibilities affecting children and young people including child support and the children's tax credit.
The children and young people's unit was established in July 2000 as a cross-cutting unit to support Government work across the full 0–19 age range. The unit reports to John Denham, Minister of State in the Home Office and the Secretary of State for Education 138W and Skills. The Chancellor of the Exchequer chairs the Cabinet Committee on children and young people's services.
The Government recently reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the needs of the most vulnerable children by announcing a new ministerial committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, to oversee the development of a Green Paper on children at risk. A Green Paper will be published early next year on the whole issue of children at risk, including how to ensure that they do not take up crime, and their family, mental health and educational problems.
These initiatives are all in addition to mainstream services which cover young people, such as social services, the health service and schools. Other ministerial responsibilities in this area are set out in the "List of Ministerial Responsibilities", copies of which are available from the Vote Office, the Libraries of the House, and the Cabinet Office website:www. cabinet office.gov.uk/central/indexilmr.htm.