Background

Terms of Reference

The Council of Ministers has established this Inquiry, to be conducted in accordance with the Inquiries (Evidence) Act 2003.

To fulfil the following Terms of Reference Revised by Council of Ministers – 27 January 2005:

1. To enquire into the level and effectiveness of the care and support provided by the Government and the agencies of the Government to Samantha Barton and George Green and to determine whether they had any relevance to the circumstances surrounding and leading to their deaths.
2. To enquire generally into the level and effectiveness of the care and support systems, including through care, provided to children of secondary school age or above on the Isle of Man who have behavioural and emotional problems taking account, where considered necessary, of care and support received in their earlier years. In so doing, the Inquiry will take into account all relevant influences on such children.
3. To make recommendations as to how the welfare of such young people may be safeguarded so as to avoid, as far as possible, a similar tragedy occurring in the future.