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Dept for Education and Skills

Answer

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the Minister for Children has responsibility for (a) children in prison, (b) asylum- seeker children and (c) children of domestic violence victims in refuges. [121828] Margaret Hodge: My responsibilities cover the services provided by the Department for Education and Skills for children in these particular situations. These include: support for unaccompanied asylum seeking children; ensuring an appropriate education for children of asylum seekers, young people in secure establishments, and children living in domestic violence refuges; Connexions services for any of these young people aged 13-19; SureStart programmes for families in refuges; programmes supporting these children funded by the Children's Fund; social care for all children and young people in secure establishments, and children living in domestic violence refuges. I am also working with Ministers from other Departments in fulfilling their responsibilities for these children as follows: the Home Office for services to children and young people in secure establishments, for asylum seeking children (both accompanied and unaccompanied); the Department of Health, for healthcare for children; and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on funding for domestic violence refuges and their services. As Minister for Children my role is to put children's needs at the heart of our services and to facilitate co-operation between different agencies and providers.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

121828; 409 c104W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Children Asylum Departmental responsibilities Domestic abuse Protection Young people Young offenders

Link

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