FOSTERING

That this House welcomes the Government's Green Paper, Every Child Matters and its proposal to give child safety a higher priority, but is concerned that not enough attention has been afforded to private fostering arrangements similar to that through which Victoria Climbie was fostered, believes that therapeutic services should be provided for abused children and that children be given the same rights as adults against assault; and asks the Government to ensure that local authorities will be given the resources and a legal duty to integrate their services to protect children.