Human Rights Committee publishes report on UK Children and Families Bill

Date: 27th June 2013
Category: General measures of implementation

The UK Joint Committee on Human Rights published its third Report of the 2013-14 Session, 'Legislative Scrutiny: Children and Families Bill and Energy Bill' on Thursday 27th June 2013.

The Children and Families Bill is a carry-over Bill from the 2012-13 Session. It was first introduced in the House of Commons on 4th February 2013 and was brought from the Commons to the Lords on 13th June. The Second Reading of the Bill in the House of Lords is scheduled for 2nd July. In the Joint Committee on Human Rights legislative scrutiny report, they consider the significant human rights issues raised by the Bill.

In the scrutiny report, the Joint Committee on Human Rights states that 'in our experience, Parliament would always be greatly assisted by the Children's Commissioner for England providing a children's rights impact assessment in relation to any Government Bill, or part of a Government Bill, which has significant implications for the rights of children; and we hope that the Commissioner will have sufficient resources to be able to assist Parliament regularly in this way.'