The government is considering plans to set up a national child protection service to bring an end to the cases of abuse scandals which have exposed failures in the current system.

The plan would downgrade the role of social services departments and is likely to be included in a green paper on protecting children due to be published next month.

Meanwhile senior ministers have been given a damning report into the death of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie.

The report, which will be published in a few weeks, slams Haringay social services and health services.