Speeches by Asato.

“The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill would require education settings to be automatically included in safeguarding arrangements. Should the Bill go further and make education a fourth safeguarding statutory partner, as recommended by the independent review of children’s social care?”

“I would like to declare an interest in that I worked for Barnardo’s prior to being elected to Parliament.”

“Very quickly, off the back of that, there have been some calls to introduce equal protection for children so that they have the same protections as adults. To what extent quickly do you think that could help to safeguard them from harm?”

“I am going to move on to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.”

“Yes, of course, Claire. Sorry.”

“Thank you very much. Moving on to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, the Committee has heard concerns about the proposal to introduce a mandatory reporting duty for child sexual abuse because it may result in practitioners becoming overly risk averse and making assumptions about abuse without doing the ne…”

“You mentioned the important need to tackle profiteering. One of the measures that the Bill introduces is an expansion of regional care co-operatives. Could you explain the evidence that sits behind the decision to expand the regional care co-operatives when similar regionalisation arrangements for adoption agencies hav…”

“Thank you, Secretary of State. The Bill strengthens Ofsted’s powers to investigate unregistered and, therefore, illegal schools. Last week Ofsted officials largely welcomed the changes but said that they looked forward to conversations about unregistered alternative provision, which “does not get as great a mention in …”

“Given the horrific murder of Sara Sharif and recent calls by the Children’s Commissioner and children’s organisations to equalise protection for children, as is the case in Scotland and Wales, do you think it is now time to introduce this protective measure, particularly as we have the children’s wellbeing Bill in fron…”

“We know that one in five children has a diagnosable mental health disorder and that services are struggling to support these children. Labour’s manifesto promised a mental health professional in every school. What steps have been taken to make this a reality? Is the Department still on track to have 50% of schools with…”

“Just very quickly to return to the children’s wellbeing Bill, the Bill requires schools and local authorities to co-operate to manage school admissions and supply of local places. How is this going to work in practice and how frequently do you expect to use your powers to intervene on admissions?”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg. I pay tribute to Ellen Roome’s steadfast campaign in the most awful, unimaginable circumstances, and to the campaigns of all the other bereaved parents who seek change so that no other parent has to suffer like they are. As citizens, parents and legislators, …”

“I wish to acknowledge that I have had the privilege of working alongside the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham Yardley (Jess Phillips), for a number of years while I worked in the domestic abuse sector. She was a one-woman safeguarding service. Members from acros…”

“Does the hon. Member agree that there was a two-year inquiry on organised networks and sexual exploitation, which is grooming gangs, in the language of inquiry? The chief executive of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood said: “we urge the Government to focus on delivering improvements… rather than p…”

“I thank my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education for bringing forward this landmark piece of genuinely transformational legislation. As someone who spent three years in the voluntary sector fighting for vulnerable children, I know that the Bill prioritises children and their needs, righting many of the…”

“The Government have said they will introduce annual safeguarding reviews for every school in England. What discussions have you had with the Department about whether Ofsted or another body will be carrying out these reviews?”

“The proposed frequency of supported accommodation inspections has been criticised. Why are inspections of supported accommodation less frequent than those of children’s homes, especially when serious weaknesses are found?”

“I am sure some of those children also told you that their conditions can fluctuate while they are in that supported accommodation as well, so they may be independent at the start but perhaps things happen where their independence is challenged.”

“I know we are really short of time, so I have two very quick questions. Inspections of supported accommodation providers were postponed from April until September 2024 due to the high volume of registration applications. How many providers has Ofsted inspected so far?”

“Finally, are there any further areas of the DFE’s recent policy paper Keeping Children Safe, which we have not discussed, that you would like to respond to?”