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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 f [1D [K for implementing new safeguarding measures in the Children's Wellbeing and [K Schools Bill. He also requests resources for the implementation of a child [K risk disclosure scheme, similar to Clare's law or Sarah's law but focused o [1D [K on broader caregiver risks. The family believes that such a disclosure sche [4D [K 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 C [1D [K Chappell, who was killed by her mother's partner after a period of abuse. T [1D [K The case highlights systemic issues in information sharing and safeguarding [12D [K safeguarding between agencies, leading to missed opportunities for interven [8D [K intervention. He emphasizes that the deaths of such children are not statis [6D [K statistics but represent young lives cut short due to abuse or neglect. Acr [3D [K Across serious case reviews, the failure to share information is identified [10D [K 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, [K Mr Mundell. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland Central (Lewis [6D [K (Lewis Atkinson) for securing this debate, and for doing so in a way that b [1D [K builds on the important debate held in this Chamber on 14 October, secured [K by my hon. Friend the Member for Blaydon and Consett (Liz Twist). I also th [2D [K thank all the Members who have contributed to this debate today from across [6D [K across different parties and have recognised the amazing young children who [3D [K whose lives were tragically cut far too short. I reiterate that no child [5D [K child should ever suffer at the hands of someone entrusted with their care, [5D [K care, and no family should endure such a loss. The petition calling for the [3D [K the creation of Maya's law has gathered over 110,000 signatures from concer [6D [K concerned individuals advocating for a child risk disclosure scheme. Change [6D [K Changes to deliver the goals of Maya's law are in progress, including stren [5D [K strengthening information sharing through three complementary ways: enhanci [7D [K enhancing the child sex offender disclosure scheme; introducing a new child [5D [K child cruelty register; and establishing a new information-sharing duty und [3D [K under the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill. The Crime and Policing [K Bill will place Sarah's law on a statutory footing and require chief police [6D [K police officers to follow guidance for disclosures whenever necessary to pr [2D [K protect children. The same bill introduces a child cruelty register, requir [6D [K requiring adults convicted of child cruelty offences to notify the police o [1D [K of key changes in their circumstances. Additionally, through our Children's [10D [K Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we are introducing a new information [11D [K information-sharing duty that legally obliges agencies such as the police, [K social care, health, and others to share information for safeguarding purpo [5D [K purposes. We have worked closely with stakeholders to ensure that the du [2D [K duty supports sharing across the full breadth of safeguarding or when promo [5D [K promoting the welfare of children. There will be an implementation plan pub [3D [K published imminently after the Bill is passed, and I am eager to involve fa [2D [K family members in the early drafts of statutory guidance. Strengthening chi [3D [K child protection is this Government's absolute priority, which means acting [6D [K acting early so that the right support is in place before harms occur. We a [1D [K are delivering landmark reforms by overhauling children's social care with [K £2.4 billion investment and introducing multi-agency child protection teams [5D [K 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.