HC Deb 08 April 2003 vol 403 c233W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training has been provided to(a) GPs and (b) carers in identifying children who (i) have problems in schools, (ii) have alcohol or drug misuse problems and (c) are committing anti-social or criminal behaviour as set out in paragraph 2.15 of Command Paper 5778. [106783]

Jacqui Smith

Paragraph 2.15 of Command Paper 5778 refers to general practitioners as one gateway into more specialist services for parents and carers who need extra support in differing circumstances.

The children at risk cross-cutting review looked at the issue of training for professionals working with children and young people and recommended the development of a common core of learning and skills objectives.

The Government will be publishing a Green Paper that will examine how well services are meeting the needs of children at risk, of poor outcomes, including educational failure, offending, victimisation and abuse and ill health. It will examine what could be done to make services more responsive and better able to intervene earlier in the life cycle rather than in response to crisis.