HC Deb 07 July 2000 vol 353 c334W
Mr. Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will appoint a commissioner for children; and if he will make a statement. [129441]

Mr. Hutton

We have no plans to appoint a children's commission for England, although as our response to the Waterhouse Report made clear, we are keeping this matter under review. In the meantime, we have already embarked on a major programme to improve children's services and strengthen the safeguards protecting children from abuse.

We consider that this ambitious legislative and policy programme which includes the Care Standards Bill, the Children (Leaving Care) Bill, the Protection of Children Act 1978, the £375 million Quality Protects programme and the new Children's Rights Director post within the National Care Standards Commission together amount to a step-change in the provision of safeguards for children.