To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were recorded as having died in each of the last 10 years following suspected or confirmed (a) abuse and (b) neglect. [94029]

Information detailing the number of children who have died in each of the last ten years following abuse or neglect is not held centrally.However, by revamping its databases of serious cases, the Department of Health has a record of serious case notifications from 1 April 2002. Of the 119 notifications between 1 April 2002 and 31 January 2003, 91 were of deaths and 28 were of serious injuries.Information detailing the number of children under 16 years old, who are currently recorded as being victims of homicide (a category which covers murder, manslaughter and infanticide) over the last ten years has been placed in the Library.