Written question asked by Vera Baird (Labour) on Wednesday, 27 October 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 17 November 2004. It was answered by Baroness Hodge of Barking (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 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, in how many of the family law cases in which it was unclear, at the time of the Association of Directors of Social Services survey in July, whether there was serious disagreement between medical practitioners as to the causes of harm to children, it is now clear that such disagreement is present.

Answer: Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in how many of the family law cases in which it was unclear, at the time of the Association of Directors of Social Services survey in July, whether there was serious disagreement between medical practitioners as to the causes of harm to children, it is now clear that such disagreement is present. [195175] Margaret Hodge: We do not have this information, in the form that is requested. However I am confident that the courts and local social services will have regard to the recent court judgments in their consideration of cases. Where courts have made recent determinations in cases, these will have reflected the advice given to civil courts in the family Appeal Court cases of Re LB and Re LU, following the judgment in the criminal Appeal Court case of R. v. Cannings , on how to approach the evidence given by medical expert witnesses in family proceedings. I would like also to draw the hon. Member's attention to my reply to her question 194996, and to the completion of the second stage survey of the review of children's cases, who were already the subject of a care or related order. The results of this further survey, carried out by the Association of Directors of Social Services, have been placed in the Library.

Secondary information