Public Services Committee

11 November 2026

Public Services Committee Actual start House of Lords

Follow its sittings
19:08 - 19:56
Speaker 1
Can I welcome Dame Rachel de Souza to the meeting as Children's Commissioner. 

I'm very pleased that you're here and the next hour I hope we can gain a lot of your knowledge and expertise in this area for the committee.  I'm Keith Bradley, the chair of the committee.  I have no interest to declare and I would like to start the questioning by asking you to what extent is the children's social care system meeting the demands of and delivering good outcomes for all children, and particularly those with complex needs, including those who've been deprived of their liberty?  Welcome. 
19:56 - 20:27
Speaker 2
Thank you so Thank you so much, Chair, and I've got four points I want to make, but before I do that, I just want to thank the committee. 

I've been Children's Commissioner since 2021, March '21.  Your work you've been shining a relentless light on children in social care as I have tried to do, and the most vulnerable children.  And I can't start without thinking we've been thinking of fallen soldiers, thinking of Lord Laming who was you know, a great support to me.  So, yeah.  So, four things. 

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