Blair says child protection is top priority

The government are proposing an independent children’s commissioner as part of reforms of children’s care services.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said the move would be the most far-reaching reform of children's services for 30 years.

Under the proposals, every child would benefit from improved tracking and information exchange between the various organisations with responsibility for childcare services.

Launching the Green Paper, Mr Blair said that the Victoria Climbie case "tragically illustrated" the failures of the existing system.

One of the key proposals included in the reform package is the appointment of a Children's Commissioner for England, to ensure better oversight of local children's services and more effective complaint procedures.

Mr Blair said: "All our children should have the chance of a proper start in life.

"Underpinning this must be not just resources but a change of attitudes that reflects that value that society places on children and childhood. Children embody our future - the future of our society, our communities, our own families.

"We want to transform the life-chances of this generation, allowing all our children the opportunity to fulfil their talents. This Green Paper marks a significant step towards that goal."

Minister for Children outlined some of the details of the package to the parents of Victoria Climbie’s parents on Monday and she personally apologised for the mistakes that had been made in the case of their daughter who died after prolonged neglect and cruelty by her carers in 2000.

Making a number of recommendations, Lord Laming’s report into the eight-year-old’s death highlighted a lack of information exchange between professionals and called for an improved multi-agency approach to childcare.

Children's Commissioners for Northern Ireland and Scotland are to be appointed shortly, Wales already has a Children's Commissioner.

(SP)