HC Deb 19 September 2002 vol 390 cc358-9W
Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider proposals from the NSPCC for the creation of a child safeguarding board and the establishment of multi-agency child safeguarding teams to increase the effectiveness of professionals working together. [72908]

Jacqui Smith

Evidence and submissions relating to issues raised by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children campaign have been heard by the Victoria Climbié Inquiry. The Government expect to receive the Inquiry's report later this year. The Inquiry's recommendations, will be given full and proper consideration by the Government.

Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding has been given to the child protection system in each year since 1997. [72910]

Jacqui Smith

It is for individual councils with social services responsibilities and National Health Service bodies to decide, in the light of their priorities, how much to spend on child protection services. Other statutory agencies, such as the police and education services, also commit resources to meeting their child protection responsibilities, while a number of voluntary organisations also provide child protection services.

However between 1996–97 and 2002–03 the Government increased social services funding by more than 20 per cent. in real terms and will make further annual average real terms increases available of 6 per cent. between 2003–04 and 2005–06.

Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures the Government have taken(a) to make it easier for children to report abuse and neglect and (b) to raise public awareness of child abuse. [72911]

Jacqui Smith

The Government have revised and widely distributed their child protection guidanceWorking Together to Safeguard Children. This document sets out how all agencies and professionals should work together to promote children's welfare and protect them from abuse and neglect. It is addressed to those who work in the health and education services, the police, social services, the probation service, and others whose work brings them into contact with children and families. All those who work with children and families are expected to retain a clear focus on the welfare of the child and be alert to, and know how to respond quickly and decisively to, potential indicators of abuse and neglect. This greater awareness should make it easier for children to be heard when they report abuse and neglect.

In addition, a range of new mechanisms have been introduced that make it easier for children to report abuse and neglect. These include: the appointment of the first ever Children's Rights Director for England—Roger Morgan—to act as a powerful champion for some of the most vulnerable children in our country, and to monitor and review the effectiveness of the arrangements in relation to dealing with complaints and representations made by, or on behalf of, children about regulated children's services. the Education Act 2002, which places a statutory requirement on Local Education Authorities and the governing bodies of schools and further education institutions to have arrangements to ensure that their functions are exercised with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and to have regard to guidance issued by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State when drawing up those arrangements. These new duties will reinforce schools' responsibility to have effective arrangements for identifying and responding to signs of neglect and abuse. the participation of children and young people in day to day decision making as a key principle underpinning the Government's Quality Protects Programme. Objective 8 of the Government's objectives for children's social services says that local authorities should enhance the involvement of young people in the planning and delivery of services, and in decisions which affect their daily lives, including giving children and young people access to independent advocacy services and mechanisms for speeding up the complaints procedure.

The Government are also providing funding to ChildLine, which was established to listen to children and young people and to offer them counselling, information, support and protection.

Area child protection committees are responsible for deciding what child protection information and advice to make available to members of their local community. However, leaflets advising adults what to do when they have concerns about the welfare of a child or that a child may be suffering, or at risk of suffering, abuse or neglect have also been produced on a national basis by a number of voluntary organisations. These include the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's Handle with Care (about the dangers of shaking babies) and Partners in Protecting Children. In addition, there are a number of leaflets which provide advice to children, such as Kidscape's Stop Bullying and You Can Beat Bullying.