Written question asked by Liam Fox (Conservative) on Thursday, 24 October 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 November 2002. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Monday, 4 November 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to establish area child protection committees on a statutory basis.

Answer: Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to establish area child protection committees on a statutory basis. [78037] Jacqui Smith: The Joint Chief Inspectors' report "Safeguarding Children", published on 14 October 2002, contains a recommendation that the Department should review the current arrangements for area child protection committees to determine whether they should be established on a statutory basis to ensure adequate accountability, authority and funding. The Government have welcomed the publication of this report. The Government recognise that there is still more to be done to ensure that the highest standards of child protection are applied in every case. That is why it commissioned the Joint Chief Inspectors' report. It is also why my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Health and the Home Secretary set up the statutory inquiry, chaired by Lord Laming, into the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the death of Victoria Climbie. The Government looks forward to receiving Lord Laming's report later this year. It will respond in full to both reports after it has had the opportunity to consider them fully.

Secondary information