§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish the numbers of cases reviewed under each category for review under local authority circular LAC 2004(5) together with the outcome of the reviews including the number of children successfully reunited with their birth families and the number in each category who remain the subject of dispute between local authorities and birth parents. [HL1993]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland)The Government plan, with the assistance of the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) to undertake surveys of councils with social services responsibilities, in order to ascertain the effect of the guidance issued in local authority circular LAC 2004(5). These surveys will be undertaken after both the four-week period and the 12-week period referred to in the circular. The surveys will be undertaken during April 2004 and July 2004 respectively. Given the likelihood that plans for the reunification of children with their birth parents will take many months to complete, whether linked to the guidance in this circular, or more generally, we do not intend to seek this information through these surveys. Further, the local authority circular did not address 153WA the issue of children who are the subject of dispute between local authorities and birth parents. Hence, the surveys that will be undertaken will not address this issue. The results of both surveys will be placed in the Library of the House of Lords and the Library of the other place.