LGA counsels caution on childrens Bill

23 Oct 03
Town hall leaders fear the government is pressing ahead too quickly with its reforms to children's services, after Education Secretary Charles Clarke revealed he wanted a Bill in next month's Queen's Speech.

24 October 2003

Town hall leaders fear the government is pressing ahead too quickly with its reforms to children's services, after Education Secretary Charles Clarke revealed he wanted a Bill in next month's Queen's Speech.

The Local Government Association said ministers should not rush to implement the radical changes set out in the children's green paper, published last month.

The paper proposed the merger of children's social services and education departments to form trusts, with chief education officers being scrapped in favour of the new position of children's director.

Phil Swann, the LGA's director of strategy and communications, told Public Finance the reforms were complex. He warned that hasty implementation could lead to subsequent problems.

'It is important to do everything necessary to provide services to children, but we don't want to see a rush to legislation before there has been a proper consultation,' Swann said.

'We are concerned in part about the impact on local authority structures, and there is a need for detailed discussion on how the green paper proposals should be implemented.'

Swann was speaking after the education secretary used his speech to the Association of Directors of Social Services conference in Brighton to make his pitch for a slot in the 2003/04 legislative session.

He said he wanted a short Bill to be included in the Queen's Speech incorporating the main measures outlined in the green paper.

The paper, Every child matters, was drawn up in response to the findings of the Laming inquiry, which examined the circumstances surrounding the death of Victoria Climbié from abuse. It is intended to bolster children's services and stop other vulnerable youngsters from falling through the net.

As well as creating children's trusts, the Bill would also enact the proposal to give every child an identification number and a file containing information, such as their school and GP. Files for children deemed to be at risk would also have the contact details for the professional in charge of their case.

As is customary, Clarke emphasised that he could not pre-empt what would be in the Queen's Speech. But he told delegates: 'I hope we do get a commitment in this Parliamentary session for a short Bill to deal with some of the headline issues in the green paper.'

PFoct2003

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