Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal Democrats

Advocacy Services for Children and Young People in Wales

Peter Black: David Melding outlined in great detail the reasons why the Welsh Liberal Democrats join the Conservatives and other Members in the Chamber in their concern about the content of this consultation report and the inadequacy of the proposed model. Like other Members, we are concerned that this is the only model on offer for consultation, and are concerned that because it is the sole model available, it is the Government's preferred model in terms of implementation and that, no matter what comes out of the consultation, we will be stuck with that model, which, in our view, is inadequate because it is not independent and because it is tied too firmly to the interests of those who provide the services as opposed to the interests of the children who use them.

I am astonished that, seven years after Waterhouse, we still have no proper independent advocacy service in place across Wales. Waterhouse emphasised that the interests of children should be protected in this way and that this service should be available in order to enable children to have a say when it comes to the way in which their services are provided. Despite many protestations on the part of the children's commissioner and Assembly Members, questions and debates in this Chamber, and God knows how many interventions by other organisations, we find ourselves faced with a consultation and no sign of a proper model being put in place.

Like Jonathan, I am astonished that Plaid Cymru is prepared to abstain on the Government's amendment. It would be nice if the Government withdrew that amendment, as it would help tremendously. If that goes to the vote and Plaid abstains on it, the motion will be passed, and we will be left with just this model contained in the document. Helen Mary referred to this debate as being part of the consultation and that is how we should look on it. However, if the Assembly has not been given an opportunity to vote on the main part of the motion because the Government's amendment has been passed, that consultation and our contribution to it will, effectively, have been stymied and we will be back to square one. Therefore, I ask Plaid Cymru to reconsider its decision to abstain from voting on amendment 2 if the Government does not withdraw it. It is important that we express a view as Assembly Members, and it is clear that the Welsh Liberal Democrat Group, the Welsh Conservatives and Plaid Cymru are united around the model of an independent all-Wales advocacy service, which the children's commissioner is promoting.

David outlined the main objections to the model that the Government is putting forward. Like many Members in this Chamber, I find it difficult to see what answer the Government can give to those particular arguments. Regional commissioning is a step towards greater independence for advocacy providers than at present. However, that is not a huge achievement when you consider that we will not avoid a conflict of interest among advocates who will still be commissioned by the agencies that they have to challenge on behalf of children. That can cause tensions and difficulties, and, as stated already, can lead to the withdrawal of funding at some later stage and those advocates being compromised. Contracts can be terminated because of financial difficulties or where providers withdraw, leaving vulnerable children without their trusted support. That is not an acceptable way forward. The children's commissioner is adamant about this issue, and you have only to look to the 2005-06 report, in which he stated that he believed that 'a vital opportunity to improve and extend children's advocacy-to give them a voice they are entitled to-has been missed'.

Those are pertinent words, which the Government needs to take account of.

We as Welsh Liberal Democrats and, hopefully, as an Assembly, should be strong in our view that this model put forward by the Government is not fit for purpose. I understand that the Welsh Local Government Association is keen for the consultation to continue, and it is also keen on this model. However, it is a service provider, and so I would expect that to be the case. I am not saying that it does not have the interests of children at heart, but we have to divorce this from the providers, and we have to ensure that whatever model we put in place is completely independent of service providers.

Therefore, I am happy to support the motion and the amendments tabled by Plaid Cymru, but I will not be supporting amendment 2 tabled by the Government, which I believe would wreck this motion and would deprive the Assembly of a voice in this consultation