HL Deb 23 October 2002 vol 639 c105WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the recent comments and recommendations by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child regarding the need for further measures by the United Kingdom to comply with the obligations imposed by the Convention on the Rights of the Child. [HL5894]

Baroness Ashton of Upholland

The Government are under no formal obligation from the UN to respond to the report, but lead departments across Whitehall, together with the devolved administrations, are considering how to take the committee's comments into account. Although there are areas where we expect to take a different view from the committee over our obligations under the convention, we will consider its recommendations in developing our overarching strategy for children and young people, a development which the UN committee welcomed. Copies of the UN committee's report have been placed in both Libraries.