The Department for Education and Skills has responded to the joint committee on human rights call for a children's champion for England who is independent from the government.

Hilary Benn, minister for children and young people until Tuesday's minor reshuffle, said: "The government welcomes the committee's contribution to the debate on the need for a children's commissioner for England.

"We continue to review how best children's rights and interests can be promoted and safeguarded, particularly in the light of Lord Laming's report into the death of Victoria Climbie.

"We will publish our conclusions in the forthcoming green paper on children at risk."

Forum Response: The Children's Society

Kathy Evans, the Children's Society's policy and practice manager, said: "The Children's Society fully backs the committee's call for a children's champion for England who is fully independent from government.

"Despite calls from children and young people, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and a coalition of 126 charities, including the Children's Society, for an independent children's champion, England is still lagging far behind the rest of the UK.

"Wales already has a commissioner, Scotland and Northern Ireland are in the process of appointing one, but while England waits the needs of its 11.3 million children are being overlooked.

"We urge the government to listen to our children's needs and include the independent commissioner in its forthcoming green paper on children at risk.

"The report highlights school exclusion and bullying, problems which the Children's Society tackles through its work with students, teachers and parents. Based on experience, the charity believes that to effectively tackle these problems, each and every child's rights need to be understood and respected."

Forum Response: Barnardo's

Liz Garrett, head of policy at Barnardo's, told ePolitix.com: "Barnardo's supports the establishment of a children's rights commissioner for England and welcomes this report from the joint committee on human rights.

"A commissioner's office would be uniquely placed to ensure that children's UN Convention rights to protection, provision of services and participation are respected as well as ensuring that government remains focused on our youngest citizens.

"There is much evidence that commissioner's offices have been successful in nations throughout the world. Closer to home, Wales has a commissioner and both Northern Ireland and Scotland are in the process of establishing them.

"We hope that the forthcoming green paper on children at risk will demonstrate the government's commitment to England's children by establishing a children's rights commissioner here."