§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he was first informed of children being wrongfully removed from their parents owing to misdiagnosis of Munchausen's syndrome by proxy; and when he was first informed that Munchausen's syndrome by proxy was responsible for serious miscarriages of justice. [152113]
§ Margaret Hodge[holding answer 30 January 2004]: We are not aware of any such situations. Local authorities have a duty to make inquiries where a child is thought to be at risk of significant harm, following Government guidance "Working Together to Safeguard Children".
Where a local authority should seek a Care Order in respect of a child, it will be for the courts to decide if this is appropriate.
However, I would refer you to the statement that I made to the House on 23 February 2004, in which I set out the action that I asked local authorities with social services responsibilities to take following the Appeal Court's judgment in the appeal against the conviction of Angela Cannings.