HL Deb 09 February 2004 vol 656 cc123-4WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the result of the recent visits by representatives of the Department for International Development to foster care centres in Romania; and whether the visits also included orphanages. [HL1104]

Baroness Amos

There have been no recent visits by officials of the Department for International Development (DfID) to childcare centres and orphanages in Romania. However, DfID is providing technical assistance to the Romanian National Authority for Child Protection and Adoption (NACPA) to improve the standards of care for abandoned and homeless children placed in institutions.

DfID-funded consultants advising the NACPA have supported the development of an inspection, monitoring and evaluation system for childcare services in Romania. These consultants have visited childcare centres and orphanages with the NACPA in order to support a series of pilot inspections. This will contribute to a national programme for inspection, monitoring and evaluation being developed by the Government of Romania with the support of other donor agencies.