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Dept of Health

Answer

Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason the Chief Inspector of Social Services does not publish an annual report into how well children are being protected from harm. [78019] Jacqui Smith: The Chief Inspector of Social Services produces an annual report to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State on the general state of social services. This report includes a section on children's services. The Chief Inspector also produces national reports, covering a five yearly rolling programme of in depth inspections of councils' children's services. In addition, last Winter the social services inspectorate (SSI) led the first of an ongoing series of three yearly major inter-agency inspections of safeguards for children. The SSI designed and co- ordinated this inspection, which took place in eight local authority areas, working with the seven other statutory inspectorates who are involved with services to children and families--OFSTED, the HM Inspectorates for Prisons, Probation, Constabulary, Magistrates' Courts Services and the Crown Prosecution Service, and the Commission for Health Improvement--to look at how well local services ensure the safeguarding of children and how well they work in partnership to address child welfare concerns. The SSI drafted the report of the inspection and published it on 14 October 2002.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

78019; 392 c422W;392 c434W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Children Abuse Annual reports Protection Social Services Inspectorate

Link

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