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Dept of Health

Answer

Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what use child protection registers are put; and how he expects this to change in the next three years. [78038] Jacqui Smith: A central child protection register should be maintained in each area covered by a social services department. The register should list all the children resident in the area (including those who have been placed there by another local authority or agency) who are considered to be at continuing risk of significant harm, and for whom there is a child protection plan. The principal purpose of the register is to make agencies and professionals aware of those children who are judged to be at continuing risk of significant harm and in need of active safeguarding. The Joint Chief Inspectors' report "Safeguarding Children", published on 14 October 2002, contains a recommendation that the Department should review the purpose of child protection registers and issue guidance to local authorities. 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 look 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

Type

Written question

Reference

78038; 392 c121W;392 c124-5W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Children Abuse Protection Offences against children

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk