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Children and Young Persons Bill [HL]

I strongly commend the amendment. I agree that it may not be altogether appropriate to insert it in the Bill, but it makes a very important point because we should encourage reflection and the development of quality in the profession all the time. I declare an interest, because I do a small amount of professional advisory work with the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at De Montfort University, and I am involved in the governance of other universities. In all of them, I have seen evidence of the important contribution that can be made in this area. However, the point that has just been made is terribly important; if they are to do this work well, it is not just a matter of fixing up ad hoc contracts but of being able to plan ahead to put the right people in place to have the human and resource structures to be able to provide a quality service. It would be wonderful if a united message could go out from all sides of the Committee on this point, saying that this is a good thing and that the resources ought to be put in place to make it possible.