§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list directives issued by his Department(a) in response to the Climbié Report and (b) following his statement to the House on 28 January. [114731]
§ Jacqui SmithOn 28 January, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to chief executives of councils with social services responsibility, national health service trusts, strategic health authorities and primary care trusts enclosing a checklist of 56 of the recommendations. Police, health and social services were asked to guarantee that within three months, these basic elements of good professional practice were in place. Copies of the letters are available in the Library.
The report also highlighted that there was confusion about local guidance relating to child protection. My right hon. Friend announced he would publish shorter, clearer guidance which will reach every one of the one million professional staff dealing with the safeguarding of children.
On 19 May, I published the booklet 'What To Do If You're Worried A Child Is Being Abused', under cover of a Health Service Circular/Local Authority Circular, asking chief executives of a range of health and other organisations, to ensure that the copies they receive are distributed to staff. Copies are available in the Library.
We have also asked the Social Services Inspectorate and the Commission for Health Improvement, along with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary to undertake joint inspections of the local services in North London with which Victoria came into contact.