Amendments proposed to the Children Bill [Lords] - continued | House of Commons |
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Functions of Commissioner in Northern Ireland
Margaret Hodge NC29 *To move the following Clause:'(1) The Children's Commissioner has the function of promoting the views and interests of children in Northern Ireland in relation to excepted matters. (2) Subsections (2) to (9) of section 2 apply in relation to the function of the Children's Commissioner under subsection (1) above as in relation to his function under that section. (3) In discharging his function under subsection (1) above the Children's Commissioner must take account of the views of, and any work undertaken by, the Commissioner for Children and Young People for Northern Ireland. (4) Where the Children's Commissioner considers that the case of an individual child in Northern Ireland raises issues of public policy which are of relevance to other children in relation to an excepted matter, he may hold an inquiry into that case for the purpose of investigating and making recommendations about those issues. (5) Subsections (2) to (6A) of section 4 apply in relation to an inquiry under subsection (4) above. (6) Paragraphs 2 to 5 of Schedule 8 to the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 (S.I. 1972/1265 (N.I.14)) apply for the purposes of an inquiry under subsection (4) above with the substitution of references to the Children's Commissioner for references to the person appointed to hold the inquiry. (7) Where the Secretary of State considers that the case of an individual child in Northern Ireland raises issues of relevance to other children in relation to an excepted matter, he may direct the Children's Commissioner to hold an inquiry into that case. (8) Subsections (2) to (6) of section 5 apply in relation to an inquiry under subsection (7) above. (9) Paragraphs 2 to 8 of Schedule 8 to the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 (S.I. 1972/1265 (N.I.14)) apply for the purposes of an inquiry under subsection (7) above with the substitution of references to the Secretary of State for references to the Ministry. (10) In this section, "excepted matter" has the same meaning as in the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c.47).'
Annual reports
Margaret Hodge NC30 *To move the following Clause:'(1) As soon as possible after the end of each financial year the Children's Commissioner must make a report on
(2) The Children's Commissioner must in particular under subsection (1)(a) include an account of the steps taken by him to involve in the discharge of the functions referred to in that provision the children in relation to whom those functions are exercised. (3) Where the Children's Commissioner makes a report under this section
(4) The Children's Commissioner must publish a report under this section as soon as possible after the Secretary of State has laid it before each House of Parliament. (5) The Children's Commissioner must also, to the extent that he considers appropriate, publish any report made under this section in a version which is suitable for children. (6) In this section, "financial year" has the same meaning as in paragraph 8 of Schedule 1.'
Care leavers and young persons with learning disabilities
Margaret Hodge NC31 *To move the following Clause:'(1) This section applies for the purposes of this Part, other than section 2(8) and (9). (2) Any reference to a child includes, in addition to a person under the age of 18, a person aged 18, 19 or 20 who
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)
for the purposes of the Children Act 1989 (c.41), he is looked after by a local authority in England and Wales;
for the purposes of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (c.36), he is looked after by a local authority in Scotland;
for the purposes of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I.1995/755 (N.I.2)), he is looked after by an authority in Northern Ireland;
Children's Commissioner for Wales: powers of entry
Margaret Hodge NC32 *To move the following Clause:
"(8) The Commissioner or a person authorised by him may for the purposes of any function of the Commissioner under section 72B or 73 or subsection (4) of this section at any reasonable time
Further action following report on formal investigation
Tim Loughton
NC1 To move the following Clause:'(1) Where the Children's Commissioner has made a report under section 4 which contains a recommendation as to action to be taken by a relevant body, the Commissioner may by notice require that body to provide the Commissioner within 3 months of the date of the notice with
(2) A notice under subsection (1) shall include a statement that a failure by the body to respond within the period mentioned in that paragraph may be published in such manner as the Children's Commissioner considers appropriate. (3) If, on receipt of a response from the body, the Children's Commissioner considers that
(4) A notice under subsection (3) shall include a statement that a failure by the body
(5) The Children's Commissioner shall maintain a register containing details of
(6) Any register maintained under subsection (5) shall be open to inspection by any person at all reasonable times at the offices of the Children's Commissioner and the Commissioner may make arrangements for copies of the register to be available for inspection in such other place or places or by such other means as he considers appropriate. (7) The Children's Commissioner shall publish those arrangements in such a way as to bring them to the attention of persons likely to be interested.'.
Requirement to review working of Part 1 of the Act
Tim Loughton
NC2 To move the following Clause:'(1) The Children's Commissioner shall
(2) The first report under this section shall be made as soon as practicable after the third anniversary of the coming into force of this Part. (3) A subsequent report under this section shall be made at such time as the Children's Commissioner thinks fit, not being earlier than three years after the making of the last previous report. (4) A report under this section
(5) The Secretary of State shall as soon as is reasonably practicable lay a copy of every report sent to him under this section before each House of Parliament.'.
Co-operation over provision of services
Tim Loughton NC3 To move the following Clause:'(1) This section applies to each of the following
(2) Each person and body to whom this section applies shall
so as to improve the well-being of children and to ensure that the welfare of children is safeguarded and promoted.'.
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