Clause 8 - Arrangements to safeguard and promote welfare
Children Bill [Lords]
2:33 pm
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Shadow Minister for Women, Family; Epping Forest, Conservative)
I want to speak to amendment No. 31. Subsection (2)(a) says that the bodies referred to in subsection (1) must ensure that
''their functions are discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children''.
The words ''having regard to'' are too weak in this context, and our amendment would strengthen the provision. We do not disagree with the intention behind the subsection, but we feel that the wording should be stronger, and suggest that it should say that the functions must be discharged
''in a manner consistent with the objective of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children''.
Sitting suspended for a Division in the House.
On resuming—
Mrs. Laing: I have made my point, which is simple and brief. The phrase ''having regard to'' is not strong enough for the instructions that we should like to give in this clause, and amendment No. 31 would strengthen and improve the clause.