PRESS RELEASE

22 March 2002

CROYDON MP SUPPORTS NSPCC CAMPAIGN TO END CRUELTY TO CHILDREN

Richard Ottaway, Conservative MP for Croydon South, has signed a Parliamentary Motion pledging support for the NSPCC's campaign to end child abuse, and calling on the Government to make a commitment to end child abuse deaths within a generation.

Richard Ottaway says:-

"I believe that one of the basic tasks in politics is to ensure the protection of the weakest and most vulnerable. Cases of child abuse, or even death, upset and horrify all decent people. The vast majority of children come from loving and caring homes. However, one to two children are killed by their parents or carers every week."

"I am happy to support the NSPCC's Full Stop campaign, which has raised awareness of this important issue. Under the circumstances, I have signed a Parliamentary Motion which calls on the Government to end child abuse deaths within a generation, with a specific target of reducing such deaths by half in 10 years."

Ends

Note to Editors: - further details of the NSPCC's Full Stop campaign can be found at: http://www.nspcc.org.uk/html/news/fullstopcampaign.htm