Child Protection Services (Aberdeen)

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:56 pm on 4 December 2008.

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Photo of Elizabeth Smith Elizabeth Smith Conservative 2:56, 4 December 2008

I welcome the ministerial statement, which commits the Government to a comprehensive review of child protection services and which details the progress that has been made in Aberdeen City Council. Let me restate the Conservatives' willingness to work with all parties to secure measures that will improve the protection of our vulnerable children.

The statement is timely, given the research that was published yesterday in The Lancet, which found that one in 10 children in the United Kingdom faces some form of physical, mental or emotional abuse and, just as worryingly, that teachers, general practitioners and paediatricians have concerns about some support services. The inspection report on Aberdeen highlighted the fact that the quality of child protection services was unsatisfactory in key areas, referring particularly to some instances of high risk.

I have two specific questions. First, what is being done to improve the risk and needs assessment processes and the information-sharing process? It would be reassuring to parents to know about that. Secondly, what specific measures will the Government urge Aberdeen City Council to pursue to increase the number of safe places for children who are at risk of significant harm—not only those who are facing significant harm but those who are at risk—so that there is earlier detection of potential problems?