In response to the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee report out today on the appointment of a new Children’s Commissioner for England Dr Mike Lindsay, CRAE national coordinator, said:

"CRAE welcomes the Committee’s scrutiny of the role and we are particularly pleased to see such a strong emphasis on the need for an independent Children’s Commissioner for England who is a champion for children’s rights. Children in England have a Commissioner with weaker powers than the rest of the UK and also others internationally and the role is not compliant with international rules governing independent human rights institutions.

These issues were not just highlighted by the Select Committee, but also the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in their recommendations to the UK last year. It is therefore all the more important that the Children’s Commissioner for England is able to provide a strong voice for children and young people, and to the cause of safeguarding and promoting their basic human rights.

It is imperative that this appointment has cross-party Parliamentary support so that the post continues to be taken seriously and be the strongest possible champion for children. CRAE calls on the Secretary of State to seriously consider the Select Committee’s comments and take swift action to review the powers of the Children’s Commissioner.

The role of the Children’s Commissioner must reflect what children in England deserve – not what the Secretary of State wants. We welcome the involvement of children and young people in the recruitment process; however, until the Government gets the powers of the post right, the children of England will not have a Commissioner who can promote their rights and interests as effectively as possible.”

The post of Children’s Commissioner was established by the Children Act 2004, following a decade long campaign led by CRAE. As a direct result of our campaign, there were 11 major changes made to the Children's Commissioner's powers and independence, as the Act was progressing through Parliament.

CRAE's annual State of Children's Rights report, to be launched next month, will examine the progress that the UK Government has made on establishing an independent, rights based Children's Commissioner for England.