Written question asked by Tim Loughton (Conservative) on Wednesday, 27 October 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 November 2004. It was answered by Baroness Hodge of Barking (Labour) on Thursday, 18 November 2004 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans there are to pilot the Integrated Children's System.

Answer: Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans there are to pilot the Integrated Children's System. [195340] Margaret Hodge: Following the publication of the consultation document, "Integrated Children's System-- Working with Children in Need and Their Families", in December 2002, a programme of work was set up in partnership with local authorities with social services responsibilities to pilot its introduction and test the integrity of the Integrated Children's System (ICS). This will allow the components of the system to be amended and revised before full introduction. Pilot Studies There are two separate but inter-related pilot studies funded by the Government in England and Wales: The first study is to assess the development of a multi-agency and integrated approach to implementing the ICS for children in need and their families. It is a two-year study ending in March 2005. There are four pilot sites: York, London borough of Richmond-upon-Thames and Lancashire county council in England and Neath Port Talbot in Wales. A second study aims to investigate how the ICS operates within local authorities with social services responsibilities. It is a two- year study which commenced in April 2004. It has a particular focus on piloting the system with disabled children and black and minority ethnic children and their families. There are four pilot sites: West Sussex and Newcastle in England, and Flintshire and Wrexham in Wales.

Secondary information