Clause 7 - Co-operation to improve well-being
Children Bill [Lords]
3:45 pm
Mr Tim Loughton (Shadow Minister for Children, Family; East Worthing and Shoreham, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 24, in
clause 7, page 5, line 22, after 'partners', insert 'to include voluntary organisations'.
At last, we have reached part 2, about halfway through our proceedings. The clause deals with the principle of joined-up approaches between the professionals—the various agencies and bodies involved in child protection and promoting the welfare of children.
Amendment No. 24 is a probing amendment. Many voluntary organisations involved with children's welfare have made representations about the clause, because they feel that voluntary partners should be mentioned in the Bill—as it stands, they are not. I am sure that the Government are mindful of the good work and essential involvement of voluntary bodies in this area. Without them—be it the NSPCC, Barnardo's or any of the wealth of other voluntary bodies—much of what we are trying to achieve would not be possible.
Amendment No. 24 would therefore include the mention of voluntary organisations. I know what the Government will say: that that would give undue preference to a particular body of people. On Tuesday, we were told that even parents would not be afforded any particular recognition; they do not occupy a special place in our attitudes towards children. If even parents cannot get mentioned in part 1, I am not optimistic that voluntary organisations will be included in part 2. However, we keep on trying, because we believe that voluntary organisations play a particularly important role, and that it would be useful for them to be named.
On occasions, conflicts occur between a commissioning local authority and particular voluntary organisations. Local authorities may, on the one hand, view voluntary organisations as merely cheap labour to provide services—they provide those services very well—or, on the other hand, may ignore them if they are not required. Both positions are
equally untenable. We believe that including voluntary organisations in the Bill would strengthen it and would also remind the various authorities and agencies of Government that voluntary partners are essential to make the joined-up approach work. That is why I commend the amendment to the Committee.