Child Safeguarding - Statement

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 5:18 pm on 6 December 2021.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Baroness Barran Baroness Barran The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education 5:18, 6 December 2021

The noble Lord makes very important points. I am not trying to suggest that we have reached anywhere like where we need to get to, but he will be aware that we published new information-sharing guidance in June 2018 and have followed that up with rolling out the child protection information-sharing system so that health and local authorities can share information. It is now live in what are technically known as unscheduled health settings, so A&E, and more recently, it has been expanded to include school nurses and health visitors. It is an important tool, and we expect it to be in all healthcare settings by March 2022-23. In terms of the Health and Social Care Bill, I am sure that as a result of what has happened recently, we will be reviewing every option, including the one the noble Lord referred to.