Caleb Ness was killed by his father

Eleven-week-old Caleb Ness was on Edinburgh's child protection register at the time of his death and an independent report identified failings "at almost every level" in the handling of the case.

Education Minister Peter Peacock said the report was "a terrible indictment of failures at all levels and across all agencies involved", prompting a decision to call a second summit of health, education, police and social work officials.

At a summit in February, First Minister Jack McConnell said agencies must work to ensure there are no repeats of the abuse scandals which have shocked Scotland.

A nation can be judged by how it treats its more vulnerable citizens Fiona Hyslop, SNP

There have been other recent high profile child death cases, including those of Kennedy MacFarlane in Dumfries and Danielle Reid in Inverness.

Kennedy and Danielle were both murdered by their mothers' boyfriends.

Mr McConnell launched a review of child protection last year and gave all authorities involved three years to reform their systems.

However, a more urgent approach was signalled after Caleb's death and Mr Peacock said the summit would take place in the new year.

He said: "It will bring together leaders and managers of child protection in the statutory and voluntary sectors, representative bodies and councils to reaffirm their commitment, to challenge progress and champion change, review progress and agree future action.

"Only through such commitment, challenge, review and reform by all of us can we achieve the improvements our children need.

Peter Peacock promised action

"We will not hesitate to take whatever steps necessary to ensure they are kept safe from harm and neglect."

Scottish National Party MSP Fiona Hyslop said an increase in social work vacancies must be addressed in the review and she called for cross-party consensus on the review.

She said: "A nation can be judged by how it treats its more vulnerable citizens.

"I would like to think, and the public expects, there is a political will to ensure that the child protection review and agenda is driven forward with energy and determination of purpose."

'Additional demands'

Tory MSP Mary Scanlon said many of the recent child deaths have been at the hands of close relatives and suggested that separating vulnerable children from their families might be the solution in some cases.

She said: "We need to challenge the culture that it is better to keep children with families at all times."

Mrs Scanlon also said: "There are simply not enough social workers to carry out the current challenges never mind the additional demands that this parliament is legislating for."

Scottish Socialist Party MSP Rosemary Byrne said the recruitment and retention of social workers was inadequate.

Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Rumbles said a single body with responsibility for child protection should be created.