Written question asked by Annette Brooke (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 21 January 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 January 2008. It was answered by Baroness Hughes of Stretford (Labour) on Tuesday, 29 January 2008 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Emergency Protection Orders

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent discussions he has had with local authority children's services on their use of emergency protection orders; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: [holding answer 24 January 2008]: The Department for Children, Schools and Families has not had any recent discussions with local authority children's services on their use of emergency protection orders (EPOs). We strengthened guidance on the use of EPOs in revised guidance to local authorities, ““Working Together to Safeguard Children””, issued in 2006. This guidance makes clear that emergency action normally takes place following an inter-agency strategy discussion and that, where a single agency has to act immediately to protect a child, a strategy discussion should take place as soon as possible. It also explains that legal advice should normally be obtained before initiating legal action, in particular when an EPO is to be sought. Through the Children and Young Persons Bill, we are amending the legislative provision for EPOs to remove an anomaly identified by the courts in equivalent legislation in Northern Ireland.

Secondary information