Appointment of the Children's Commissioner for England : eighth report of session 2008-09, Vol. 1: Report with appendices, together with formal minutes

The Committee held a pre-appointment hearing with Maggie Atkinson, the Government's preferred candidate for the post of Children's Commissioner for England.

Maggie Atkinson is currently director of Children's Services at Gateshead Council and chair of the new Children and Young People's Workforce National Partnership.

She is a former president and vice-president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services.

Whilst the Committee is satisfied that Maggie Atkinson demonstrated a high degree of professional competence, it feels unable to endorse her appointment as it would have liked to see more sign of determination to assert the independence of the role, to challenge the status quo on children's behalf, and to stretch the remit of the post, in particular by championing children's rights.