YOUNG RUNAWAYS

Early day motion 1125, tabled 5 March 2008 by Helen Southworth (Labour). Signed by 152 members.

That this House welcomes the establishment by the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families of a cross-departmental working group tasked with developing an action plan to improve services for young runaways, to be published in June, and to review emergency accommodation to consider how local authorities can best provide safe places and breathing spaces for young runaways, to contribute to a review of the Missing from Home and Care guidance, and to consider data collection issues to support the new national indicator on runaways; welcomes the attendance at the first meeting by the Minister for Children, Young People and Families; notes that research by the Children's Society indicates that 100,000 children each year run away or go missing from home or care, of whom 12 per cent. are running from abuse and around eight per cent. are hurt or harmed while away; further notes the content of the Safeguarding Runaway and Missing Children Bill; and calls on the Government to seek a legislative opportunity for the House to consider the Bill when it returns for a second reading on 20th June.

Signatures by party: Labour 120, Liberal Democrat 18, Conservative 7, DUP 4, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UUP 1.