Children Bill has 2nd Reading in the House of Commons

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 14th Sep 2004

Annette signs up for the Children are Un-beatable Campaign

welcoming the many measures within the Bill designed to give better protection for all children.

Local MP Annette Brooke, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Children and who will be leading for her party when the Bill is scrutinised in Standing Committee, was supportive of the Bill's general aims and congratulated the efforts of her colleagues in the House of Lords who made significant improvements to the Bill before it reached the Commons.

Speaking in the 2nd Reading, Annette Brooke MP said:

"Liberal Democrats believe that a wide range of important issues still require detailed debate, especially if another 15 years pass new legislation for children is introduced.

"We support the principle of a simple database with objective data but we still need many more details about how such a database would work. Most importantly, more support needs to be given to social workers for training and professional development so that they can perform child protection duties more effectively.

"On the issue of reasonable chastisement, I believe that the nineteenth century legal defence of 'reasonable chastisement' which sanctions the physical punishment of children should be abolished giving children the same protection as adults under the law on assault. We have an opportunity to initiate a change in culture in our society and to support more family support services and positive parenting messages. This should be welcomed."

Having held meetings with all the major children's charities over the last week - NSPCC, Barnardo's, The Children's Society, Save the Children, NCH - Annette Brooke raised in her speech many of the concerns that these organisations still have with the provisions included in Bill as it stands.

In the House of Lords, Peers succeeded in strengthening the powers of the Children's Commissioner, making the role more independent from the Secretary of State. MPs hope to keep these changes in the Bill, despite government threats to withdraw them from the Bill again.

Much cross-party work among opposition parties and Labour back-bench MPs will hopefully lead to an improved and more workable and effective Bill, particularly in the area of Information Sharing and the Children's Commissioner.