Child 'champion' plan worries MPs

MPs claims Peter Clarke would be undermined by an English post

A Labour-run committee of MPs says the Children's Commissioner for Wales could be undermined by the UK Government.

The Welsh Affairs select committee accuses the government of marginalising Wales by failing to consult properly over its plans for child protection.

The UK Government says an English commissioner should be responsible for children's issues in Wales in areas not devolved to the National Assembly.

MPs on the Welsh Affairs select committee disagree.

This row is about the powers of the Children's Commissioner for Wales and plans to set up a similar post in England.

All the inquiries that have happened have shown that if there is confusion between the agencies, things go wrong Julie Morgan MP

The commissioner for Wales Peter Clarke has already told the MPs that the new post planned for England could confuse and undermine his position.

Select committee members have backed his claim, saying it could fundamentally undermine the Welsh commissioner's work.

They question whether the UK Minister for Children, Margaret Hodge puts the needs of children ahead of "spurious bureaucratic expediency".

The report says the government's consultation process reinforces the notion that Wales remains on the "margins of its consciousness".

Julie Morgan, the Labour MP for Cardiff North, is a member of the committee.

'Muddled and confused'

She told BBC Wales that Westminster politicians had failed to recognise that Wales was leading the way on this issue and to learn from Wales' experience.

She said: "The proposals as they stand now are confusing - there are no clear lines of accountability.

"I think it's absolutely essential that children in Wales have one point of contact that they go to if they need somebody.

"All the inquiries that have happened have shown that if there is confusion between the agencies, things go wrong.

"As things stand now, it is are muddled and confused. It has to be cleared up."