HC Deb 31 March 2003 vol 402 cc558-9W
Matthew Green

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has through the plans set out in the Children at Risk Green Paper to ensure that support services for adults are provided to their families at times of crisis through(a) the criminal justice system, (b) the health system, (c) housing departments and (d) the benefits system. [104967]

Mr. Boateng

While it is too early to comment in detail on the content of the Green Paper, Government recognises the importance of ensuring that services for parents are sensitive to the needs of their children.

  1. (a) The Home Office is currently taking forward work on children of offenders and children of drug users. Both these pieces of work will feed into the Green Paper.
  2. (b) The supporting people programme, which begins on 1 April, will put in place a strategic framework for the planning and funding of housing-related support services at a local level. Proposals from the Children at Risk Green Paper will complement the role of supporting people to ensure that families in crisis get the support they need to live independently in accommodation.
  3. (c) The Children's National Service Framework (NSF) now in progress is currently developing national standards across the National Health Service and social services for children and young people. The Children in Special Circumstances Expert Working Group to the NSF is looking at how children are affected by the needs of their parents in cases where there is domestic violence, parent with mental health problems and parents in prison.
  4. (d) The Government is committed to tackling child poverty. As a result of personal tax and benefit reforms introduced by the Government since 1997, by April 2003, families with children in the poorest fifth of the population will be, on average, £2,400 a year better off in real terms.

Matthew Green

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has through the recommendations in the Green Paper on Children at Risk, to ensure that every child with complex needs, with particular reference to mental health needs, has a key worker; [104968]

(2) what plans he has to improve mental health training for professionals working with children, as part of the plans set out in the Green Paper on Children at Risk. [104969]

Mr. Boateng

Positive mental health is vital for children and young people's self esteem, relationships with friends and family and ability to enjoy and achieve at school and beyond. The Green Paper on Children at Risk is focusing on children from 0–19 and particularly those with complex needs.

The Green Paper is also looking at ways to improve common training, including in mental health issues for professionals who work with children and young people. This includes considering the possible role of key workers in ensuring more integrated service provision to those most at risk.

Matthew Green

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Green Paper Team on Children at Risk plans to introduce a transition to parenthood programme as an early preventative strategy. [104970]

Mr. Boateng

Government recognises that parenting and family support is a key preventative service, which is provided in order to enable parents, carers and families to use resources effectively. Local preventative strategies cover parenting support and these are ongoing at the moment.

The Green Paper on Children at Risk will build on ongoing work across government, looking at how parents can be enabled to support their children best, from preparing for parenthood, throughout the key early years and as their children grow towards adulthood.