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The Scottish executive has laid out the remit for the country's first children and young people's commissioner. The commissioner must safeguard and promote children's rights, and can make recommendations for action and initiate general investigations. However, they will not have the power to investigate individual cases. The commissioner will promote good practice and consider the impact of all policies, initiatives, and legislation on children and their families through the publication of a child impact statement. They will also publish an annual report. The Scottish executive's Education, Culture and Sport Committee had actively pursued the idea of a children's commissioner. In March 2001 Wales appointed Peter Clarke as the first children's commissioner in the UK. He has the power to scrutinise public bodies involving children, including school and NHS facilities, and the Welsh assembly. Despite many demands for it, England does not have an overall children's commissioner. Some councils have appointed their own but they lack statutory powers.

Martin Green, chief executive, Counsel and Care for the Elderly
"The appointment of a commissioner for children's rights could have positive benefits, but I am concerned that the position could become yet another token appointment unless there is clarity about where children's rights are being infringed and how the commissioner will promote change. I hope the commissioner will also address the issue of parental responsibility and put rights into that context."

Bill Badham, programme manager, Children's Society
"On 19 September the UK government gives evidence on its treatment of children, under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to the Committee on the Rights of the Child. On 4 October the committee publishes its findings. Look out for them. They will applaud developments for a children's champion in Wales, Scotland and especially the excellent model proposed in Northern Ireland. They will be baffled by the contrary statements from England, still denying 11.3 million children the right to an independent and statutory empowered children's rights commissioner. Join the movement. Add your weight to the campaign. E-mail info@crights.org.uk today."

Karen Warwick, senior practitioner, Barnardo's
"The absence of a commissioner for England baffles me. There is some fantastic children's rights work going on around the country, and this needs support through the development of a children's commissioner post. One in three children in the UK live in poverty, and thousands are socially excluded as well as being excluded from education. This needs addressing via a body that will endeavour to focus on the impact of policy development upon children and assist in securing their rights."

Felicity Collier, chief executive, Baaf Adoption and Fostering
"There is overwhelming support for the appointment of a children's rights commissioner for England. The regional commissioners in England and the children's rights director are signs of the government's commitment to children but they do not reduce the need for an external independent children's champion. No other person can act as an independent watchdog for children on legal and policy development. Action has been taken by Wales and Scotland - England must follow. It cannot be acceptable for the government to ignore the advice of its select committee and allow England's children to have a lesser voice."

Phil Frampton, national chairperson, Care Leavers Association
"The appointment of a commissioner in Scotland is a step forward. The issue is whether the post will be used to advocate children's rights and create structures to allow children to empower themselves, or whether it will lead to more of the traditional anti-children policy followed by recent governments."