Arrangements to safeguard and promote welfare
Children Bill [Lords]
10:33 am
Mrs Margaret Hodge (Minister of State (Children), Department for Education and Skills; Barking, Labour)
The amendments reflect a promise that we made in the House of Lords. We had omitted to place the British Transport police on the list of organisations that will have a duty to make arrangements for ensuring that
''their functions are discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children''.
This is not a contentious issue. We have discussed it with the Department for Transport, and everybody has agreed that as the British Transport police have wide contact with the public, and with children in particular, it is appropriate to include them in the clause. I hope that the Committee will accept the amendment.