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Friday, 17 March, 2000, 19:50 GMT

MP alleges abuse 'cover up'

An MP says the Waterhouse report into the north Wales child abuse scandal is seen as a cover up because it does not name politicians, police officers and judges suspected of abuse.

Martyn Jones made the allegations during a Commons debate on the report - a debate attended by just six Welsh MPs.

The government has denied the claims that a former Welsh Office inspector convicted of abusing boys drew up terms of the Waterhouse abuse inquiry.

The Wales Office Minister David Hanson rejected the allegations made in the Commons by the Clwyd South MP, Martyn Jones.

Mr Jones also claimed that Derek Brushett advised the former Welsh Office Minister Rod Richards against holding a public inquiry into claims of abuse in north Wales.

The tragedy is we know these children in North Wales were not alone. The clear evidence is that too many children in the past were failed by the very services that should have been there to help them
Health Minister John Hutton

Mr Jones's allegations came during a full Commons debate on the Waterhouse report into abuse at children's homes in north Wales.

Just six Welsh MPs attended the debate.

Earlier, Mr Jones suspended a threat to publish the names of 45 other people named in the Waterhouse report who he believes should be investigated by police.

By naming alleged abusers in Parliament, Mr Jones could not be sued for what he reveals.

But he said he will not do so until he has checked allegations with the police, but pledged that he will raise questions about the way the inquiry was carried out. Martyn Jones MP

Only six of the 40 Welsh MPs were present for the start of the debate on Friday in the Commons.

Vale of Clwyd MP Chris Ruane also warned the House of Commons that care workers needed protection from disturbed children, after a worker in a care home was allegedly sexually assaulted by a young resident.

Mr Ruane said he had been visited by the care worker after the assault and questioned what the Government was doing to protect workers.

The Health Minister John Hutton said it was ultimately the task of employers to ensure a safe working environment for their staff.

Naming threat

Opening today's debate, the Westminster Health Minister John Hutton outlined measures the government has taken in response to Waterhouse - including the establishment of a Children's Commissioner. Chris Ruane MP

Mr Hutton said other key recommendations of the Waterhouse report were already being implemented, including a complaints procedures, independent advocacy and the establishment of the National Care Standards Commission.

He said a full response to the report would be published in the summer and The Protection of Children Act was likely to come into place in the autumn.

"The problems are bigger than any one individual ... they are rooted in systematic failure," Mr Hutton told MPs.

"The tragedy is we know these children in north Wales were not alone. The clear evidence is that too many children in the past were failed by the very services that should have been there to help them."

The issue of a commissioner for Wales was debated again in the Welsh National Assembly in Cardiff this week.

Related to this story:
Children's commissioner plan takes shape (08 Mar 00 | Wales)
Law change to protect children (02 Mar 00 | Wales)
Children's charity calls for abuse prosecutions (25 Feb 00 | Wales)
MP intends to name 50 'abusers' (21 Feb 00 | Wales)
Abuse list 28 not in Wales (17 Feb 00 | Wales)

Wales Contents: Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales |