Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will review the legal safeguards needed before permission can be granted by the courts to withdraw life-sustaining treatment for children; and if he will meet Christian Concern to discuss that organisation's proposals for legal reform.

Whenever the court is required to make difficult decisions involving the care of a child, it must consider the facts and individual circumstances of each case and, based on that, determine what is in the best interests of the child concerned.

The Children Act 1989 provides the legislative framework and makes a child’s welfare paramount. In addition to this principle, there is relevant clinical guidance which health professionals rely upon to make their recommendations.