New Clause 1 - Commissioner's annual report

Part of Children's Commissioner for Wales Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 12:45 pm on 30 January 2001.

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Photo of Nigel Evans Nigel Evans Vice-Chair, Conservative Party 12:45, 30 January 2001

I stand before the Committee quaking in my boots at the combined forces of the coalition that my hon. Friend the Member for North Dorset and I knew existed, but had not seen working before in Committee. The Minister said that it was good to see everyone attacking the Tories again and that reminded me of the glorious 18 years of the Conservative Government. It was wonderful to have such an experience in Committee, if only for a short time. However, we are only a few weeks off a general election. It was almost a cause for an X-file investigation, given the conciliatory words of the Minister, when he referred to the 40 Welsh Members of Parliament. After the general election, however, a number of Conservatives will represent Welsh constituencies, so they will receive a copy of the report, but it would be useful if it had as wide a circulation as possible.

My hon. Friend the Member for Faversham and Mid-Kent said that the report should be prepared in such a way that people can understand it. That is an important point. Whether it be in hard copy or on the web, the report should be prepared so that people understand the commissioner's thinking about those areas that he has monitored and the recommendations that he makes. I know that the Children's Commissioner will be reading a copy of our deliberations and I hope that he will pay due regard to the manner in which the report is brought forward.

I agree with the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnorshire about the availability of some of the reports from the Welsh Assembly. It seems as though we have to go out of our way to obtain certain reports. Given that the primary legislative powers will remain here, it is important that Members of Parliament with Welsh interests and children's interests are encouraged to read the report, and one way to facilitate that might not only be to put it in the Library, but to ensure that it is sent to all Members of Parliament, as is the case with several other reports.

With the wonderful warm consensual words of the Minister still ringing in my ears, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion.

Motion and clause, by leave, withdrawn.