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Proceeding contribution from Barry Sheerman (Labour) in the House of Commons on Thursday, 2 July 2009. It occurred during Estimates day on Looked-after Children.


Looked-after Children

I think my hon. Friend knows that I agree with that. That is where the line is drawn—we must ask whether a child is miserable with their birth family and whether they would be miserable in care. A fundamental conclusion of the report was that care has to be a very good option. Children who have been failed by their family do not deserve to be failed again. I get the feeling that the general view out there is that people expect us to stand up for the very best standards for children in care, because that is the litmus test of a civilised society. Children in care are the least fortunate and the most vulnerable children in our society, so we should be judged on how we look after them, and we should look after them as well as we can.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
495 c516 
Session
2008-09
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Children in care Children, Schools and Families Committee
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk