Commenting on today’s report by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, ‘Missing Voices: Right to be Heard’, Aled Roberts, Welsh Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Children and Young People, said:
“Despite there being statutory obligations on local authorities to make arrangements for youngsters in care to have access to an advocate to speak on their behalf, today’s report shows that children in care in Wales are still not getting the provision which is theirs by right.
“The report is the latest in a number of publications which have highlighted a massive gap between policy and implementation, and I share the Children’s Commissioner’s frustration that so many youngsters over so many years are still without the support they need.
“The Welsh Government has been keen to emphasise its commitment to children, but this report shows that they need to back this rhetoric up with some real action.”