Responding to the news that the ‘Powers to Innovate’ clauses will be removed from the Children and Social Work Bill, Tim Loughton MP said:
“I am delighted and greatly relieved that the Government have listened to the very strong concerns from across the children’s sector about the potential undermining of rights and safeguards for vulnerable children that could have resulted from the so called ‘Powers to Innovate’ clauses in the Children & Social Work Bill. These clauses will be removed at the Report stage of the Bill on Tuesday and ministers have added their names to the amendment signed by Shadow Children’s Minister, Emma Lewell-Buck, and me. This is a victory for common sense and now the many very constructive proposals to help children in care in the Bill in particular can complete their parliamentary scrutiny unencumbered by this dark shadow.
“On Tuesday of last week, I led a delegation to see Justine Greening with Lord Laming, Lord Mackay and fellow MP Kelly Tolhurst. We made a forceful case that removing the safeguards for vulnerable children enshrined in primary and secondary legislation amassed over decades was a dangerous precedent that had not been attempted for any other section of the population in any other legislation. It was entirely wrong that vulnerable children should be used as ‘guinea pigs’ in that respect. If there were genuine concerns from local authorities that legislation is standing in the way of better practice for children in their care then specific proposals should be brought forward, properly scrutinised by parliament and then established in law if deemed beneficial. As it is all the examples we have seen could largely be achieved by granting flexibilities in guidance but which crucially does not take aware the safety net of duties and welfare considerations in legislation.
“Having recruited Professor Eileen Munro, commissioned her review and started the implementation of her recommendations in my time as Minister for Children not once did we envisage granting such exemptions to primary legislation. I am glad Professor Munro now agrees that these measures are not appropriate and do not have her support. Shortly the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Children will be publishing its comprehensive report on the state of Children’s Social Care. Our report reveals worrying and widening gaps in outcomes and treatment of children in care from one authority to another across England. Narrowing those gaps should be the priority of ministers at the DfE whilst these measures if implemented ironically could only have served to widen them. The Government have done the right thing and our vulnerable children will be safer as a result.”