Back in 2003, Andrew Rosindell M.P. had an opportuntiy to question then Prime Minister Tony Blair's appointment of a former leader of Islington Council as Children's Minister.
In this clip from Prime Minister’s Questions, Andrew raises concerns about the background and suitability of the appointment, following the publication of the White Inquiry.
In view of the White inquiry into Islington child abuse scandals of the 1980s and 1990s, which described Islington council as a chaotic organisation that breeds the conditions for dangerous and negligent practices in relation to child care, does the Prime Minister really think that his appointment as Minister for Children is well advised?
Andrew Rosindell M.P., Member of Parliament for Romford
My hon. Friend the Minister for Children was, of course, the Minister with responsibility for early years from 1998 to 2001. Let me tell the hon. Gentleman what she accomplished: free education for all four-year-olds—[Interruption.] Those accomplishments were free education for all four-year olds—now 88 per cent. of three-year-olds—647,000 new child care places, and the development of the sure start programme, which, in constituencies across this country, is doing an immense amount for young people. That is a record of which she and we can be proud.
The Rt Hon. Tony Blair M.P., Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
