I am mortified that the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, regretted only the growing chasm between herself and the noble Baroness, Lady Morris. I thought that she would be far more concerned about the growing chasm between herself and me. I greatly regret that she is so far away and I...

I am mortified that the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, regretted only the growing chasm between herself and the noble Baroness, Lady Morris. I thought that she would be far more concerned about the growing chasm between herself and me. I greatly regret that she is so far away and I...

I will certainly study the noble Baroness’s remarks with care. We published the UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking last March. It contains a comprehensive strategy to improve the identification and safeguarding of child victims of trafficking and to reduce the risk of their going missing. If there is...

I will certainly study the noble Baroness’s remarks with care. We published the UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking last March. It contains a comprehensive strategy to improve the identification and safeguarding of child victims of trafficking and to reduce the risk of their going missing. If there is...

Clause 8 and this group of amendments enable us to discuss two important issues. I suggest that it will be important to keep them separate in our minds. The first, from the child’s point of view, is continuity of friends and relatives when he or she is being placed, either...

Clause 8 and this group of amendments enable us to discuss two important issues. I suggest that it will be important to keep them separate in our minds. The first, from the child’s point of view, is continuity of friends and relatives when he or she is being placed, either...

I have some amendments in this group: Amendments Nos. 32, 33, 34 and 46. Despite physical appearances today, there is not a yawning chasm between me and the noble Baroness, Lady Morris of Bolton, but that is a matter that I shall redress in the correct forum. My Amendment No....

I have some amendments in this group: Amendments Nos. 32, 33, 34 and 46. Despite physical appearances today, there is not a yawning chasm between me and the noble Baroness, Lady Morris of Bolton, but that is a matter that I shall redress in the correct forum. My Amendment No....

I believe that the figure given by the noble Baroness came from the Government. I am not sure that it is 180—it may have been 160—but the Government have certainly said that something in the region of that number of trafficked children have gone missing in the past year to...

I believe that the figure given by the noble Baroness came from the Government. I am not sure that it is 180—it may have been 160—but the Government have certainly said that something in the region of that number of trafficked children have gone missing in the past year to...

I thank the Minister for his explanation of Amendment No. 48. Notwithstanding all the entitlements to housing that the noble Lord listed, I wonder why so many young people who have been in care land up homeless. Given what the Minister said, it seems amazing that any young person leaving...

I thank the Minister for his explanation of Amendment No. 48. Notwithstanding all the entitlements to housing that the noble Lord listed, I wonder why so many young people who have been in care land up homeless. Given what the Minister said, it seems amazing that any young person leaving...

It is true that the effectiveness of Clause 9 in improving educational stability depends on the interpretation of the word ““near””. However, the meaning of ““near”” will properly vary with the particular circumstances of the child, including his age and any special educational needs or disability that might affect his...

It is true that the effectiveness of Clause 9 in improving educational stability depends on the interpretation of the word ““near””. However, the meaning of ““near”” will properly vary with the particular circumstances of the child, including his age and any special educational needs or disability that might affect his...

I have just been informed that it is the birthday of the noble Baroness, Lady Morris, today. If I may say so, greater love hath no woman than that she lay down her birthday for a Grand Committee. We are delighted that she is with us today. My noble friend...

I have just been informed that it is the birthday of the noble Baroness, Lady Morris, today. If I may say so, greater love hath no woman than that she lay down her birthday for a Grand Committee. We are delighted that she is with us today. My noble friend...

Now that I understand what the noble Baroness is saying, perhaps I could reflect on it further and come back to her. On Amendment No. 66, which seeks to extend the period of appointment for independent visitors until the young person reaches the age of 25, while we appreciate that...

Now that I understand what the noble Baroness is saying, perhaps I could reflect on it further and come back to her. On Amendment No. 66, which seeks to extend the period of appointment for independent visitors until the young person reaches the age of 25, while we appreciate that...

I am informed that the effect of the amendment would be to impose a duty on local authorities to visit young people aged 18 to 21 who are care leavers.

I am informed that the effect of the amendment would be to impose a duty on local authorities to visit young people aged 18 to 21 who are care leavers.

I enthusiastically support the amendment tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Meacher. I have said before—and I do not want to become repetitive—that I always find the clarity and experience with which she argues her amendments commendable. What she has said stands in its own right. The reasons I have...

I enthusiastically support the amendment tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Meacher. I have said before—and I do not want to become repetitive—that I always find the clarity and experience with which she argues her amendments commendable. What she has said stands in its own right. The reasons I have...

The transitional stage of care is often one of the most difficult stages. Indeed, this stage of life can be a time of confusion, uncertainty and frustration for young people who enjoy considerable advantages, let alone for young people in care. During this time, when a child faces the vast...

The transitional stage of care is often one of the most difficult stages. Indeed, this stage of life can be a time of confusion, uncertainty and frustration for young people who enjoy considerable advantages, let alone for young people in care. During this time, when a child faces the vast...

moved Amendment No. 61: 61: Clause 13, page 10, leave out lines 33 to 37 and insert— ““(b) a child who was looked after by a local authority but who has ceased to be looked after by them as a result of prescribed circumstances.”” The noble Lord said: It is...

moved Amendment No. 61: 61: Clause 13, page 10, leave out lines 33 to 37 and insert— ““(b) a child who was looked after by a local authority but who has ceased to be looked after by them as a result of prescribed circumstances.”” The noble Lord said: It is...

I appreciate that time’s winged chariot is bearing down on us and I shall speak only for a brief period. All custody in one respect is an institutional irony. In this sense, a person’s conduct is so intolerable within the bounds of society that that person has to go outside...

I appreciate that time’s winged chariot is bearing down on us and I shall speak only for a brief period. All custody in one respect is an institutional irony. In this sense, a person’s conduct is so intolerable within the bounds of society that that person has to go outside...

I thank the Minister for his response. However, I must confess that I profoundly disagree with him that any old person will do—it could be one person one time, a different person the next and someone yet again the third time. That is precisely the point of the amendments. I...

I thank the Minister for his response. However, I must confess that I profoundly disagree with him that any old person will do—it could be one person one time, a different person the next and someone yet again the third time. That is precisely the point of the amendments. I...

In supporting the noble Baroness, Lady Meacher, on these two amendments, I shall keep my remarks very short in the interest of trying to get another group of amendments in before we have to stop. It is most important that those people should be registered social workers and that they...

In supporting the noble Baroness, Lady Meacher, on these two amendments, I shall keep my remarks very short in the interest of trying to get another group of amendments in before we have to stop. It is most important that those people should be registered social workers and that they...

I rise to support the amendment and to speak to Amendment No. 68. In supporting the amendment, I immensely look forward to what my noble friend Baroness Massey will have to say. When the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, has spoken on these issues, it is a brave person who tries...

I rise to support the amendment and to speak to Amendment No. 68. In supporting the amendment, I immensely look forward to what my noble friend Baroness Massey will have to say. When the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, has spoken on these issues, it is a brave person who tries...

It is disastrous for a child to have an endless sequence of people visiting him or her. I must not prolong this as I know there is great pressure of time. I thank the Minister for his response. Perhaps we can have a discussion about these issues. On that basis,...

It is disastrous for a child to have an endless sequence of people visiting him or her. I must not prolong this as I know there is great pressure of time. I thank the Minister for his response. Perhaps we can have a discussion about these issues. On that basis,...

I tender a sincere and heartfelt apology to the Minister. When I heard the quotation from the correspondence with the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, and the reference to status, I thought that there must be—I could not believe my ears—a reference to some loss of human status or of social...

I tender a sincere and heartfelt apology to the Minister. When I heard the quotation from the correspondence with the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, and the reference to status, I thought that there must be—I could not believe my ears—a reference to some loss of human status or of social...

There have been no suicides in local authority secure units, whereas there have been in other parts of the secure estate for children. It is well recognised that keeping those children reasonably near their homes is crucial for the success of rehabilitation. That is only possible if one has smaller...

There have been no suicides in local authority secure units, whereas there have been in other parts of the secure estate for children. It is well recognised that keeping those children reasonably near their homes is crucial for the success of rehabilitation. That is only possible if one has smaller...