Keeping Parliamentarians Informed:
Children at Risk

Since the last issue of the webmag the All Party Parliamentary Group for Children has held two meetings:

• On 20 May on the Green Paper on Children at Risk with the Rt. Hon Paul Boateng MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury

• On 21 May jointly with the APPG Childcare on Work-Life Balance and Childcare with the Rt. Hon Patricia Hewitt MP, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Minister for Women

Green Paper on Children at Risk

Rt. Hon Paul Boateng MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury stated that this Green Paper offers an historic opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of children (0–19 years old). Children at risk is to be interpreted in the widest sense – children at risk of failing to fulfil their potential, at risk of harm and abuse, at risk of underachieving, at risk of discrimination, disabled children and young people and vulnerable children and young people. He stressed the importance of the need for change and that children had to be at the centre, with design, delivery and intervention being formulated around children’s needs. The Chief Secretary also reinforced the Government’s commitment to listen to children.

The current emphasis on children at risk is at the hard end of protection. The Chief Secretary stressed the need to improve and increase provision in other areas such as providing better support for parents, and intervening earlier and more effectively. There also needs to be better recognition for those working with children, better training and career pathways and training in core competencies across the piece. The Chief Secretary commended the role and input made by volunteers.

Paul Boateng MP outlined the Government’s intention for greater joined-up working both locally and centrally and the commitment to look at the full range of services for children at risk during the formulation of the Green Paper. For example, he cited the requirement of Government to examine the availability of safe places for children to play, emphasising the importance for children and young people to have access to leisure activities that are safe, secure and about having fun. The Chief Secretary emphasised that the Green Paper would be based on the messages of the Overarching Strategy on Children and Young People (in development by CYPU following public consultation), building on expertise and learning from experience.

The Chief Secretary stated that the Green Paper would give a clear sense of direction, timetabling of tasks, outcomes and delivery and promised both radical and far-reaching proposals. This was needed to transform the culture and the way in which services are formulated and delivered to children.

The Green Paper will identify what the Government intends to do now, in the medium-term and what needs to be done in the long-term; and those steps which will require legislation and which will need to feed into Spending Reviews. The Green Paper will also cover information sharing protocols and Identification Referral and Tracking schemes. Specific rural issues surrounding children at risk will be also addressed in the Green Paper.

The Green Paper on Children at Risk is expected to be published before the Summer recess of Parliament (mid-July).

Forthcoming meetings of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Children:
14 July – AGM and Implications of the Howard League Judicial Review on the application of the Children Act 1989 to children in prison (to be confirmed)

Please contact Alison Linsey, Joint Clerk to the Group (email: alinsey@ncb.org.uk):

• To be added to the email mailing list to receive minutes and notices of meetings

• For copies of minutes from any of the meetings

• For a free copy of the Group’s report ‘Commitment to Children’

• For a free copy of the Group’s report ‘Commitment to Children’

• For any further information about the Group.