Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Lisa Nandy Excerpts
Monday 3rd December 2012

(11 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Michael Gove Portrait Michael Gove
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I am grateful to my hon. Friend for bringing this case to my attention—I shall look at it more closely. It is vital that all recognise that those who agree to foster children are responsible for bringing love and stability to some of the most damaged children and young people in our society. We should do everything possible to support them.

Lisa Nandy Portrait Lisa Nandy (Wigan) (Lab)
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The Children’s Commissioner’s recent interim report was reportedly dismissed by senior Government Ministers as “hysterical” and “half-baked”. According to news reports, Government sources said:

“It is difficult to overstate the contempt the Government has for the methodology and analysis”.

Does the Secretary of State want to take this opportunity to reject those comments; to join me, the NSPCC and Barnardo’s in welcoming that important report on child sexual exploitation; and to tell hon. Members what concrete steps he plans to take immediately to ensure that the 16,500 young people identified in the report as at immediate and high risk of exploitation are protected before harm comes to them?