Lords' support grows for children's rights minister and legislation
Support is growing in the House of Lords for the return of a Cabinet Minister for Children, not just their education, and for legislation to embed children’s rights within UK law.
The issue was raised by a number of members during a debate of the Lords Grand Committee on 14 April, after which Phil Royal of the Children First Alliance, which is leading the campaign for the changes, together with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood, said:
’The momentum towards our flagship policy of a Cabinet-level Minister for the health and wellbeing of children and young people continues to grow, with new endorsements and a pledge from a Minister to lobby for it. Baroness Massey also made the case to incorporate UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. She is considering tabling our draft Private Members Bill on this issue after the Queen’s Speech expected in May.
The Lord Bishop of Gloucester attended an Alliance dinner in support of the Cabinet role. Baroness D’Souza, our Hon. President, repeats her call for the Cabinet Minister. Baroness Floella Benjamin, who was part of the early discussions about the Alliance, also goes on the record in support. Minister Lord Greenhalgh commits to lobbying for the post and that is noted and welcomed by Baroness Lister in summing up.’
The issue of a Cabinet-level minister for children is considered by many as the key structural change in government that could open up the potential for a progressive and substantive policy for children’s play in England, while the adoption of the UNCRC into UK law is regarded as the overarching legislative change that could have the same effect. The last time there was a Secretary of State for Children, in 2007-10, a national play strategy for England was introduced underpinned by £235m of Treasury funding.
The two measures – a Secretary of State for Children, and the adoption of children’s rights legislation – were among the headline policy asks of the APPG’s Play Report of 2015.
