Written question asked by Annette Brooke (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 16 July 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 21 July 2009. It was answered by Baroness Primarolo (Labour) on Tuesday, 21 July 2009 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Children: Abuse

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will establish mechanisms to track the annual number of cases of (a) violence, (b) sexual abuse, (c) neglect, (d) maltreatment and (e) exploitation of children, including, (i) within the family, (ii) in schools and (iii) in institutional or other care.

Answer: National data show 29,200 children were the subject of a child protection plan at 31 March 2008. A child has a child protection plan where there are concerns about their safety and welfare as set out in the statutory guidance "Working Together to Safeguard Children" (2006). 45 per cent. of these plans were due to neglect, 25 per cent. due to emotional abuse, 15 per cent. due to physical abuse, 7 per cent. due to sexual abuse and 8 per cent. due to multiple abuses.

Secondary information