We hope that part of the increase can be accounted for by a rise in reporting

Lorraine Gray Children 1st

The majority of children who come before the children's panel are there because of evidence that they are being neglected, abused or cruelly treated by their own parents.

A total of 28,057 care and protection cases were referred during 2000-2001.

That figure was an increase of 54% from 1998, and represented a 1,700% rise from the 1,576 cases handled when the system was first introduced in 1972.

The reporters to the children's hearings said drug abuse by parents was a factor in the rise.

'Growing problem'

Alcohol abuse and domestic violence were also highlighted as major reasons why some children were no longer safe in their own homes.

Lorraine Gray, a spokeswoman for the Children 1st charity, said: "There is no doubt more awareness of the impact of domestic violence on children.

"We know that drug abuse in families is also a growing problem.

"However, we hope that part of the increase can be accounted for by a rise in reporting."

Anne Houston called on Jack McConnell to act

Anne Houston, the director of Childline Scotland, said an increasing number of callers come from families where alcohol or drug abuse is rife.

Ms Houston also called on First Minister Jack McConnell to appoint a minister with specific responsibility for children.

She said: "We need a minister for children and a children's commissioner, someone who would be a champion for children and ensure that their needs, rights and views were taken care of."

Around one in 14 of the 22,000 children who phoned the Childline last year came from a home where the parents abused alcohol or drugs, Ms Houston said.

'Agency is coping'

In total, almost 33,000 young people attended children's hearings last year - the second highest number of referrals on record.

That figure has almost doubled from the 18,000 cases which were dealt with in 1972.

The number of offences committed by young people has fallen by 12% since 1996.

Childline takes 22,000 calls each year

The SCRA said a rise in the number of children going to foster families may have contributed to that drop.

Principal reporter Alan Miller said that the agency had managed to cope despite its increasing workload.

The Scottish Executive said it was concerned by the rise in the referral rate.

However, a spokeswoman said this reflected the public's growing awareness of child protection issues.

The executive has committed an additional �5.4m of funding to the SCRA over a three-year period to employ more staff, upgrade information technology and improve accommodation for hearings.

Cases are heard by three members of the children's panel, a body made up of lay people.

The decision to refer a child to a hearing is taken by a reporter employed by the SCRA.