Written question asked by Tim Loughton (Conservative) on Monday, 8 March 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 11 March 2010. It was answered by Baroness Primarolo (Labour) on Thursday, 25 March 2010 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Children: Protection

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families staff in which posts in (a) his Department and (b) local education authorities are permitted to read full serious case reviews.

Answer: The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) is sent an anonymised copy of each final Serious Case Review (SCR) by the LSCB concerned. These are forwarded by the relevant official in the DCSF Safeguarding Group to the researchers responsible for preparing biennial overview reports on Serious Case Reviews. Other post holders in the group may see a copy of a final SCR report if it is necessary for them to do so in the exercise of their responsibilities.The statutory guidance "Working Together To Safeguard Children" states that Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) are responsible for undertaking SCRs and for determining who should have access to any part of the SCR. The membership of the LSCB must include representatives from the local authority.

Secondary information