Children’s Bill

A bill to increase support for parents and to increase the options available to children from the Government throughout the United Kingdom.
Bill IDCB11-06
Author(s) The Rt Hon Gorban Smiljić OOBC CBE PC MP
First reading2023 July 12
Affected legislation N/A

Stages
2023-07-12 First reading No divisions available for this stage

Versions
2023-07-12 As submitted Be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows

1. Baby box support

  1. A baby box, in the “äitiyspakkaus” style premiered in Finland, known henceforth in this Bill as the “box”, will be made available to all mothers in the United Kingdom who visit a doctor before the sixteenth week of pregnancy. If a mother decides to refuse the box, they may instead receive a cash grant at a level set by the Government.
  2. The contents of the box and the size of the cash grant shall be set by a new Infants Commission detailed in Section 2, reporting separately to each devolved Parliament, in England combined with the Children's Commissioner for England.
  3. This Act mandates that the box must at least contain:
    1. A thick blanket or quilt
    2. A sleeping bag
    3. An undersheet
    4. A large box exterior, which can double as a crib for most infants
    5. A mattress in a size that fits the exterior box
    6. A woollen hat and insulated gloves
    7. A light, hooded suit
    8. A bath towel, toothbrush, hairbrush and toothpaste
    9. A small picture book
    10. A pack of nappies
    11. A set of bra pads and condoms
    12. An infant parenting advice booklet
    13. An advice booklet on how to use the box
  4. On an official basis, the Infants Commission shall be considered the manufacturers of the box (subcontracted to companies it sees fit) and this will be made known on the box.
  5. By law, the box cannot be a commercial product, and the Infants Commission cannot make money from the sale of boxes.
  6. Parents may only receive one box per child, and it will not be applied retrospectively.
  7. The box may be applied for via the website of the Infants Commission, or by completing and returning a freepost form.

2. The Infants Commission

  1. The Government will form a United Kingdom-wide Infants Commission to oversee the best start in a child’s life, in conjunction with the Children’s Commissioner for England, the Children's Commissioner for Wales, the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People and Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People.
  2. The Infants Commission will have responsibility for assessing the baby box requirements every twelve months, and also for assessing both advice booklets every twelve months.
  3. The Infants Commission will take charge of ensuring childcare for parents and of education - combined with the Department for Education and Culture - until the start of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
  4. The Infants Commission has part authority over financial grants for parents.

3. Tax benefits for parents and parental leave changes

  1. Families with children who are on the benefits system shall receive free school meals while they are on the benefits system.
  2. The basic rate of support for children with disabilities shall be raised to the level of Child Tax Credits.
  3. The two-child limit on Child Tax Credits shall be removed.
  4. The amount of days of leave given in shared parental leave will be increased to 480 per child, that they are entitled to share.
  5. 90 days of the 480 must be reserved specifically for each parent.
  6. For those taking parental leave during the reforms, days previously taken off will be subtracted from the 480 days, and the system will apply as current.

4 .Childcare and educational reform

  1. Schools should be assessed by their local councils to make school uniforms and mandatory supplies affordable.
  2. All 2-4 year olds will be entitled to 30 hours of free preschool education per week, assessed by the Infants Commission.
  3. Free school meals shall be introduced for all children from the Foundation Stage to the end of Key Stage 2.
  4. The Year 2 national curriculum assessments will be repealed in their entirety, as will the National Times Table test, replaced by less high-stakes assessments of primary school students’ progress.

5. Revival of the Sure Start programme

  1. The successful Sure Start programme will be revived by the Government.
  2. The Government will fund the new Sure Start for at least five years, before it transfers into the control of local authorities.
  3. The Government will open new Sure Start centres in waves, the with each round in order targeting areas most affected by child poverty.
  4. The new Sure Start centres will provide a new alternative to having to pay for private childcare, and the Department for Education and Culture, combined with the Infants Commission, will oversee the development.

6. Kinship carers

  1. The Department for Education and Infants Commission will create a training and support scheme for extended family members taking care of a child, known as ‘kinship carers’.
  2. Kinship carers will be given equal rights as adoptive parents in law.
  3. Statutory paid leave given to adoptive parents will be extended to kinship carers.

7. Short title, commencement, and extent

  1. This Act may be cited as the Children’s Act 2023.
  2. This Act extends to the whole of the United Kingdom.
  3. This Act comes into force upon royal assent.