Margaret Hodge said children were portrayed as 'yobs'

Children's minister Margaret Hodge told the Common education select committee the power would apply for issues of "national importance".

Commissioners in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have this freedom.

But the Children Bill, going through the Lords, does not extend the power to a future English counterpart.

'Concessions'

Mrs Hodge said: "Where the commissioner takes the view that there is an individual case which demonstrates systemic failure of national importance, I think we will be putting an amendment forward which will suggest that, in those circumstances, he or she can initiate an inquiry."

She added: "On this one issue that has been raised quite vigorously in the Lords, we will be putting forward some concessions."

Mrs Hodge said she hoped the Children Bill would become law by early November to enable the commissioner to be appointed as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, she also said children were fed up with being portrayed as "yobs" like the character Martin Fowler from EastEnders.

Media depiction of young people would be one of the issues the English commissioner could investigate, as would childhood obesity and the standard of school toilets.

After giving evidence, Mrs Hodge said: "When I talk to young people, they always talk to me about how they are always seen as yobs like the one in EastEnders - Martin in EastEnders is a typical portrayal of young people."

Database

On school lavatories, she added: "I know that sounds daft but it is a big issue for kids."

The Children Bill will pave the way for a database listing basic information on every child from when they are born.

The purpose, said Mrs Hodge, was to ensure different professionals involved in children's services could better share information on those at risk of abuse.

The inquiry into the murder of Victoria Climbie recommended that a national database be set up.

Last year, Mrs Hodge said this would include as much information as possible to enable doctors, social workers, teachers or voluntary workers to flag up concerns as early as they could.

But speaking to MPs, Mrs Hodge made clear the government now favoured including just the basics - such as name, date of birth, the school they attended and a tracker number, which could be their NHS or National Insurance code.

A concerned professional - such as a GP, teacher or social worker, would only put on the child's file the fact that they had a concern - not the details of what it was.

If two or more professionals involved with the child noted such worries, then the people involved with their case could get together to discuss what action might be needed.