HL Deb 01 December 1993 vol 550 cc35-6WA
Baroness David

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they have taken to consider whether law, policy and practice concerned with social security, for which they have responsibility and which affect children and young people under the age of 18; are in full compliance with all the provisions in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which they ratified in December 1991; and whether they have in particular considered whether such law, policy and practice is in full compliance with—

  1. (a) Article 2;
  2. (b) Article 3;
  3. (c) Article 12;
  4. (d) Article 26; and
  5. (e) Article 27.

Viscount Astor

These issues were considered before the convention was ratified in December 1991. A report on developments since then is currently being prepared by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health. It will shortly be issued in draft for a period of consultation before it is submitted in January 1994 to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in accordance with Article 44 of the convention.

Baroness David

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they have taken to consider whether law, policy and practice concerned with juvenile justice and protection of children from violence are in full compliance with all the provisions in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)

The Government considered these issues before we ratified the convention in December 1991. The Home Office and other departments are contributing to a report on developments since December 1991. That report will be made available shortly to interested bodies in draft for a period of consultation before it is submitted in January 1994 to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in accordance with Article 44 of the convention.