HL Deb 03 November 1993 vol 549 cc127-8WA
Baroness David

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether in relation to their obligation under Article 44 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to prepare a report for the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on implementation of the convention, they intend to publish a draft of the report to enable interested bodies to comment before it is finalised and submitted to the UN committee; and

In relation to their obligation under Article 44 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to prepare a report for the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child by January 1994 on implementation of the convention, what action they are taking or propose to take to consult (a) central government departments; (b) local government; (c) non-governmental bodies; (d) children under 18, in line with the advice of the committee that the process of preparing a report "should be one that encourages and facilitates popular participation and public scrutiny of government policies."

Baroness Cumberlege

The Department of Health is co-ordinating the preparation of the report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child on behalf of the Government. Central government departments are at present contributing to the report. We shall be consulting on the report before it is finalised and submitted to the UN.