UNITED KINGDOM

Hodge 'broke promise' on children's commissioner

Margaret Hodge has been criticised for “watering down” plans for a children's commissioner in England. The Children's Rights Alliance for England said the minister had “broken her promise” to establish a powerful champion for younger people. The move came as a cross-party group of peers attempt to amend the Children Bill, sending it back to the Commons for further consideration. Ahead of the Lords debate, campaigners said that while similar commissioners in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland would have a “rights brief”, the English commissioner would lack similar powers. Hodge was criticised for insisting that five references to safeguarding children's rights in the English “job description” should be deleted from the legislation. This would leave the children's commissioner for England “rights lite”, said the alliance.

“Margaret Hodge has broken her promise to give England's 11 million children a powerful and independent champion,” said alliance national co-ordinator Carolyne Willow. “We need a proper children's commissioner with a strong rights remit, at least on a par with those across the UK and Europe. “Of course the commissioner should promote respect for children's views but a broader rights framework is essential to get things changed for children.”

But Hodge rejected the criticism, insisting that the new commissioner would be a “powerful, independent and strong champion for children”. “What's more, we have made sure the commissioner must take his or her cue from what children and young people tell them — and we make no apology for that,” she added. “Children will also be central to the picking of the commissioner. “The strong rights element to the role is crystal clear as the commissioner is legally required to use the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in considering what is in the interests of children.” The minister said that the proposals being discussed in the Lords would do “absolutely nothing to broaden or strengthen” the role of the children's watchdog. Hodge said there was “nothing in the Bill to stop the commissioner looking at any issue relating to children”. Childcare issues The assault on the government's children policy came as the Daycare Trust said there were “big challenges” if separate plans to expand childcare were to become a reality. Addressing the charity's annual conference on Wednesday, director Stephen Burke was set to say the forthcoming 10 year plan for childcare would also present “the chance of a lifetime” to meet the childcare needs of all families in Britain. “We must be ambitious for families, giving all parents real choices about work and family life and giving all children a good start in life,” Burke was expected to add. “Childcare can help create a better Britain for all families.”

“If the 10 year plan is to make this vision a reality, then we have to face up to some big childcare challenges — how to fund affordable, sustainable childcare for all; how to build a workforce that can deliver quality services for all; and how to meet the needs of all families in every community. “As we move towards universal childcare, we can learn from other countries where progress has been greater than in Britain. We must learn from parents and children about what they want and need. “A childcare system built to last must be shaped by families' views.”

10 November 2004
http://www.epolitix.com/EN/News/200411/bd81bd79-b679-48b5-8504-f30b45738e93.htm
 

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