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Disclosure and Safeguarding: At-risk Children

13 April 2026

Lead MP

Lewis Atkinson
Sunderland Central
Lab

Responding Minister

Josh MacAlister

Tags

Safeguarding & DBSForeign AffairsChildren & Families
Word Count: 9105
Other Contributors: 7

At a Glance

Lewis Atkinson raised concerns about disclosure and safeguarding: at-risk children in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key Requests to Government:

The MP asks the government to provide a clear timeline for implementing new safeguarding measures in the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill. He also requests resources for the implementation of a child risk disclosure scheme, similar to Clare's law or Sarah's law but focused on broader caregiver risks. The family believes that such a disclosure scheme would have made a difference in Maya's case.

How the Debate Unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:

Lead Contributor

Sunderland Central
Opened the debate
The MP is concerned about the tragic death of Maya Chappell, who was killed by her mother's partner after a period of abuse. The case highlights systemic issues in information sharing and safeguarding between agencies, leading to missed opportunities for intervention. He emphasizes that the deaths of such children are not statistics but represent young lives cut short due to abuse or neglect. Across serious case reviews, the failure to share information is identified as the main area where improvements can prevent harm.

Government Response

Josh MacAlister
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Mundell. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland Central (Lewis Atkinson) for securing this debate, and for doing so in a way that builds on the important debate held in this Chamber on 14 October, secured by my hon. Friend the Member for Blaydon and Consett (Liz Twist). I also thank all the Members who have contributed to this debate today from across different parties and have recognised the amazing young children whose lives were tragically cut far too short. I reiterate that no child should ever suffer at the hands of someone entrusted with their care, and no family should endure such a loss. The petition calling for the creation of Maya's law has gathered over 110,000 signatures from concerned individuals advocating for a child risk disclosure scheme. Changes to deliver the goals of Maya's law are in progress, including strengthening information sharing through three complementary ways: enhancing the child sex offender disclosure scheme; introducing a new child cruelty register; and establishing a new information-sharing duty under the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill. The Crime and Policing Bill will place Sarah's law on a statutory footing and require chief police officers to follow guidance for disclosures whenever necessary to protect children. The same bill introduces a child cruelty register, requiring adults convicted of child cruelty offences to notify the police of key changes in their circumstances. Additionally, through our Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we are introducing a new information-sharing duty that legally obliges agencies such as the police, social care, health, and others to share information for safeguarding purposes. We have worked closely with stakeholders to ensure that the duty supports sharing across the full breadth of safeguarding or when promoting the welfare of children. There will be an implementation plan published imminently after the Bill is passed, and I am eager to involve family members in the early drafts of statutory guidance. Strengthening child protection is this Government's absolute priority, which means acting early so that the right support is in place before harms occur. We are delivering landmark reforms by overhauling children's social care with £2.4 billion investment and introducing multi-agency child protection teams.
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About Westminster Hall Debates

Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.