§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on children's trusts. [76338]
§ Jacqui SmithChildren's trusts provide an opportunity for delivering better services and outcomes for children and families. They will be based in local councils with power for the first time to commission health and social care. They will enable local partners to jointly plan, commission, finance—and where it makes sense—deliver services for children by putting their needs at the centre of policy. The first pilot sites will start from April 2003 and we will be seeking expressions of interest in December.