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Proceeding contribution from Baroness Howarth of Breckland (Crossbench) in the House of Lords on Thursday, 13 November 2008. It occurred during Debate on bill on Children and Young Persons Bill [HL].


Children and Young Persons Bill [HL]

My Lords, I, too, congratulate the Minister on what has come from the Commons. It is an excellent Bill. Those of us who spent great time on it could never have expected the outcome that we are hearing today. I am sure that we are all extraordinarily grateful to the Minister for pursuing the matter in the way that she has, because we have at last established the principle that all children within the borders of this country will be treated as children who can be safeguarded and whose development can be considered. However, will she say something about the training of the staff who will be dealing with this in the UK Border Agency, and how they will be absolutely clear about protecting children? I work in an organisation that spends a lot of time thinking about safeguarding, and we still have problems ensuring that every member of staff is clear about the issues. I add my congratulations to the noble Baroness, Lady Morris, on the Opposition Front Bench. She has made a huge contribution to children and families services and will be missed in that context—although, no doubt, she will make her contribution elsewhere. I look forward to the implementation of this legislation. I ask the Minister for reassurance about implementation timescales, because, having worked in this field for many years, I know that while we have lots of legislation, implementation is what really makes it count—and then the monitoring of how that implementation moves forward. I feel privileged to have worked on this Bill.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
705 c794 
Session
2007-08
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Disability Children Codes of practice Children in care Asylum Death Families Foster care Immigration Local government Protection Young people Registration of births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships Social services UK Border Agency General Register Office
Legislation
Children and Young Persons Bill (HL) 2007-08
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk