Oral Question to the Prime Minister: Therapeutic services for children

Speech by Annette Brooke MP delivered to Prime Minister's Questions, House of Commons on Wed 28th Jun 2006

Annette Brooke (Mid-Dorset and North Poole) (LD): In light of the Prime Minister's avowed priority for victims of crime, will he ensure that therapeutic services are available for all children who experience sexual abuse and indeed for children who exhibit sexually harmful behaviour who may have been abused themselves? That would be in line with the recommendations of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children on the issue.

Annette Brooke MP questions Tony Blair on therapeutic services for children

The Prime Minister: I would like an update, to send to the hon. Lady, about exactly what we are doing in the area of therapeutic treatment for the victims of sexual abuse. I can tell her that we have significantly increased funding for Victim Support and for the whole range of NHS therapeutic services, but I would like to acquaint myself with the actual details of what we are doing in that area and send them to her.

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10 Downing Street

London SW1A 2AA

The Prime Minister

10 July 2006

Dear Annette

At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday 28 June, I promised to write updating you on what the Government is doing for children who have been sexually abused (official report column 255).

We have recently conducted a comprehensive mapping exercise of all therapeutic services, in both the statutory and non-statutory sector, currently provided for these children. This has shown that there are services in all parts of the country and that these are led by well-qualified, experienced staff. It has to be acknowledged, however, that many services reported high demand within the context of limited resources and the Government will use this new information to inform a new strategic approach to this issue.

As part of this initiative, Caroline Flint launched the Victims of Violence and Abuse Prevention Programme on 21 June to coincide with the publication of the programme guide Tackling the Health and Mental Health Effects of Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse. This programme has been established by the Department of Health, in partnership with the Home Office and the Department for Education and Skills. It will address the health and mental health implications of child sexual abuse, domestic violence and sexual violence, and help professionals and services to better identify and respond to the needs of victims, survivors and abusers, including children, adolescents and adults.

The Department of Health has also been working closely with the Home Office to develop Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCS). These centres provide a one-stop location where victims of rape and sexual assault can receive medical care and counselling, and have the opportunity to report to the police and undergo a forensic examination. Since 2003 £1.27 million from the Home Office Victims Fund has been spent on new and existing SARCS. SARCS currently operate in 14 locations in England and Wales and six more are due to open in the coming year. The Department of Health and the Home Office are supporting the development of appropriate services for children within existing or new SARCs.

On the issue of young people who sexually abuse, an expert paper, The Needs and Effective Treatment of Young People who Sexually Abuse: Current Evidence will be available within the next few weeks. It is expected that this will be followed later in the year by a joint Department of Health and Home Office National Strategy for Young People who Sexually Abuse.

A National Sexual Violence and Abuse Stakeholder Advisory Group has been established and is jointly chaired by Vernon Coaker and Caroline Flint. It met for the first time on 28 June with a remit to include prevention and to increase access to support and health services for victims of sexual violence and abuse. The needs of sexually victimised children, and of adolescents who sexually abuse, will be addressed in this forum and in the National Sexual Violence and Abuse Action Plan currently being developed by the Home Office with the Department of Health and other government departments.

As you would expect, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is heavily involved in, and supportive of, the initiatives that I have set out in this letter.

Yours ever

Tony