Member

Stressing that I am not a legal expert, I was really attracted by the way in which this amendment is drafted, particularly subsection (3), which rightly puts an onus on professionals to make sure that they explain this in ways that are accessible to the child. We all know that medical and legal terminology may not be accessible to adults, let alone children, but the suggestion of simple language, visual aids or other means is a real direction to professionals to say that they have to facilitate, by any practical means possible, the chance for that child to have agency. That should be at the core of the Bill, particularly for the children who were drawn to our attention on the other group, who are some of the most vulnerable people in our society and who face potentially being locked up against their will. We have to give them as much voice as possible, which is what this amendment would do.