CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

Early day motion 667, tabled 21 January 1998 by Dan Norris (Labour). Signed by 145 members.

That this House welcomes the report by Sir William Utting and the Ministerial Task Force created accordingly; notes the absence of any overarching, strategic plan to address child sexual abuse in a wider context; and supports the call by Action on Child Exploitation for a major Governmental review on child sexual abuse as a means of ensuring the widest possible social examination can take place into a subject which dominates so many aspects of children's health and safety, and encompassing aspects such as, all health and therapeutic provisions for victims, criminal justice arrangements for child witnesses and victims in court, increased awareness of paedophile activity incorporating recent consultative and legislative initiatives into a broader framework, vetting structures in the voluntary sector, national and international structures for effective monitoring or organised abuse and preventative education for parents and the community in a wide examination of all relevant responsibilities to create focused policy and practice that will reassure an increasingly concerned public and stimulate child protection work at all levels for the next decade.

Signatures by party: Labour 127, Labour/Co-operative 8, Liberal Democrat 6, UUP 2, Plaid Cymru 1, Unknown 1.