PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Offences against Children: Disclosure of Information (29 March 2018)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that rules of confidentiality binding professionals who work with children can be waived when the professional has reasonable grounds to believe that a child is a victim of sexual (a) abuse and (b) exploitation.

Asked by:
Sarah Champion (Labour)

The statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children makes clear that where there are concerns about the safety and welfare of children all practitioners should share information without hesitation or concern for their individual or organisational reputation.

Fears about sharing information cannot be allowed to stand in the way of the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children at risk of abuse or neglect. Which is why last month the Government brought forward an amendment to the Data Protection Bill (currently passing through Parliament) to support effective information sharing by clarifying that data can always be shared between practitioners for safeguarding purposes.

Answered by:
Victoria Atkins (Conservative)
16 April 2018