COMMISSIONER FOR CHILDREN

Early day motion 22, tabled 24 November 1998 by Baroness Golding (Labour). Signed by 109 members.

That this House notes that 87 children were murdered in the United Kingdom last year, and each year an estimated 100,000 children have a harmful sexual experience and a further 150,000 children are physically abused; further notes the positive start made by the Government in protecting children and welcomes the Secretary of State for Health's assurance that he will examine the proposals for a Children's Commissioner, which already exists in countries such as Norway, Israel and New Zealand; supports the call by many children's organisations, including the NSPCC, the National Children's Bureau, NCH - Action for Children, Barnardos and ChildLine, for the creation of a Commission for Children; believes that the establishment of a Children's Commissioner would be a significant step towards ending the abuse and neglect of the United Kingdom's children; and calls upon the Government urgently to consider the case for a Children's Commissioner.

Signatures by party: Labour 70, Liberal Democrat 22, Conservative 6, Labour/Co-operative 4, Plaid Cymru 3, UUP 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, Unknown 1.