NCAS conference: Greening defends controversial 'exemption clause'

Speaking at the National Children and Adult Services conference in Manchester, Greening dismissed concerns that the proposals, contained in the Children and Social Work Bill, could pave the way for privatisation, as suggested by shadow children's minister Emma Lewell-Buck, or could result in the removal of children's rights.

"I know that it has been criticised by some, but I want to be clear about what the power actually means," she said.

"It is not, and never was, about the privatisation of child protection services. We are going to make that clear in the law, and that's why we've laid an amendment in the legislation, putting the question of that beyond any doubt at all.

"The power to innovate is not about removing fundamental protections from vulnerable children, in fact it's the total opposite of that. It's about how we can put you in the best position to protect those children properly."

Greening said that the philosophy behind the proposals is to allow the workforce to improve the child protection system.

"In the end we just don't think government, parliament, or civil servants should prescribe and define what great social work looks like," she told delegates.

"You're the experts and we want you to define it for yourselves. But of course, within a clear statutory framework, and that's the thinking behind the power to innovate."

Last month, the government proposed an amendment to the bill that would see an expert panel be established to consider applications from local authorities to be exempted from children's social care legislation.

The bill is due to be considered by the House of Lords on Tuesday (8 November).