Children Act 2004

"A Bill will be introduced to improve the services designed to protect children. A Children's Commissioner for England will be established."

The Children's Bill, published in the wake of the Victoria Climbié inquiry, will reform children's services.

The Bill will establish an independent children's commissioner for England, who will champion the interests of children in Whitehall.

The post of director of children's services will also be created, to be accountable to local authority education and children's social services, as well as a lead council member for children.

Powers will be established to enable information sharing between those services working with children, and local authorities will be required to set up Local Safeguarding Children Boards to encourage children's services to work together and promote children's welfare.

In addition, the Bill will allow for the introduction of a new integrated inspection framework for children's services and appropriate intervention where services are failing.

Lord Laming, chairman of the inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbié, is expected to act as an informal advisor to the DfES to help implement reforms.

House of Lords

First reading: March 3 2004 (HL Bill 35)

Second reading: March 30 2004

Committee stage:

• 1st day: May 4 2004
• 2nd day: May 6 2004 (part 1)
  May 6 2004 (part 2)
• 3rd day: May 20 2004 (part 1)
  May 20 2004 (part 2)
• 4th day: May 24 2004 (part 1)
  May 24 2004 (part 2)
• 5th day: May 27 2004 (part 1)
  May 27 2004 (part 2)

Bill as amended in the committee (HL Bill 82)

Report stage:

• 1st day: June 17 2004 (part 1)
  June 17 2004 (part 2)
• 2nd day: June 21 2004 (part 1)
  June 21 2004 (part 2)
• 3rd day: June 22 2004
• 4th day : July 5 2004

Bill as reported in the report HL Bill 97

Third reading: July 15 2004

House of Commons:

First reading: July 19 2004 (HC Bill 144)

Second reading: September 13 2004

Committee stage:

• 1st sitting: October 12 2004 (am)
• 2nd sitting: October 12 2004 (pm)
• 3rd sitting: October 14 2004 (am)
• 4th sitting: October 14 2004 (pm)
• 5th sitting: October 19 2004 (am)
• 6th sitting: October 19 2004 (pm)
• 7th sitting: October 21 2004 (am)
• 8th sitting: October 21 2004 (pm)

Bill as amended in the committee HC Bill 166

Remaining stages: November 2 2004

House of Lords:

Consideration of Commons amendments: November 10 2004

Royal assent: November 15 2004

Children Act 2004