Clause 3 - Review of exercise of functions of Assembly and other persons
Children's Commissioner for Wales Bill
6:45 pm
Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend, Labour)
I do not think that the Bill or the amendment would allow that. The Bill must be seen specifically in the context of promoting the rights and welfare of children, and in the context of the commissioner consulting children about what interests or concerns them. I do not envisage the commissioner delivering tablets of stone from on high about any subject, unless it could be shown that the subject concerned children widely and was not a problem for only one child. On such matters, there should be debate.
My amendment would work through representations to the Assembly, so that the commissioner could not take action separately. The Assembly would consider those representations, as should be the case in any democratic society. I hope that that has set the hon. Gentleman's mind at rest, and I hope that the Minister will respond positively about the way in which the commissioner may be able to make appropriate representations. The most appropriate way would be through the Assembly, to be consistent with the devolution settlement.
Debate adjourned.—[Mr. Touhig.]
Adjourned accordingly at twelve minutes to Seven o'clock till Thursday 25 January at half-past Nine o'clock.