Jillian van Turnhout (Independent)

I do not know if a convention is needed, but the fact that it is on the convention is important. Part of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is about the evolving responsibility of children and their voices. The example given about the Army is not comparing like with like. It is about ensuring that children have a voice.

I would encourage that as much of the convention's business as possible is done in the public eye to allow members of the public who are not members of the convention to follow the journey, the discussion and the awareness raising of the convention. I tracked the work of the constitutional committee on the amendment on children's rights. The committee did very good work, but I felt that too much of the work was in private session, which did not allow other people to come on the journey. Equally, they did not bring in people who did not necessarily support strengthening the rights of children. We should have heard those voices and given them a view. I hope this convention will give everybody a viewpoint.

We missed an opportunity to correct some of the flaws in the wording of the convention resolution this morning. The resolution referred to a provision for same-sex marriage, when it should refer to provision for marriage for same sex couples. The resolution we voted on this morning was flawed, but that is the democracy of this House, or possibly it is not democracy, depending on which side of the House we were.

I welcome the Bill. It is good that we are using the electoral register. It is important that we get as wide a membership as possible. I would have had no difficulty if the 100 members all came from the public. Sometimes we should listen to other people. We have plenty of opportunities to have our voices heard. I would like to have seen a wider convention.