Jack McConnell addressed a summit in Edinburgh

First Minister Jack McConnell said the "tough" new inspection system would give information on how agencies were working together.

He unveiled a new national framework of standards for child protection and pledged �600,000 towards training.

And he published a Children's Charter spelling out youngsters' rights.

Mr McConnell made the announcement at the Scottish Executive's second child protection summit in Edinburgh.

The issue was brought under the spotlight in the city by the death of 11-week-old Caleb Ness in 2001.

The baby was shaken to death by his father, Alexander Ness, who was jailed for 11 years after admitting culpable homicide.

An independent inquiry into Edinburgh's child protection services found fault "at almost every level in every agency" involved.

These are children that government has an absolute duty to protect Jack McConnell First Minister Charter 'a wake-up call' Child protection standards

The report said that all the evidence was there to prevent Caleb's death - but nobody pieced it together.

The new framework will provide clear guidelines to make sure all the agencies involved in child protection provide effective services for vulnerable children.

Funding will be made available to train 300 social workers, particularly those working with a parent who abuses drugs or alcohol.

Local child protection committees will be given a greater role, said Mr McConnell.

And he said the regular checks on the care received by vulnerable youngsters would provide information on how far the system was working in their interests.

The moves are part of a three-year reform programme for child protection services which was announced in 2002 following a report into the death of Kennedy McFarlane.

'Not good enough'

The three-year-old from Dumfries died in May 2000 after abuse by her stepfather Thomas Duncan.

Mr McConnell said: "Two years ago I said we had three years to get our collective act together.

"At the time our report into child protection services showed that services were simply not good enough. Systems were failing and we were letting down Scotland's most vulnerable children.

"These are children no adult has the right to let down. These are children that government has an absolute duty to protect.

We need to make it easier for friends, family, neighbours and the community to tell of their concerns and to do that we need one phone number Margaret McKay Children 1st

"Today we are taking very important steps to improve that system."

Scottish National Party children's spokeswoman Fiona Hyslop said the Children's Charter and child protection measures were very welcome.

But she added: "The worry is that because of a shortage of resources in social work departments across the country there could be problems with implementation.

"I am concerned that the new measures could take months, even years to implement fully if the Scottish Executive continues at the current rate of slow progress."

Charities asked why simple things they have requested, such as a dedicated helpline for people concerned about the welfare of a child, have so far been ignored by the executive.

Margaret McKay, from Children 1st, agreed that there was a need for better trained workers.

Caleb Ness was shaken to death by his father

But she added: "We also need to harness the care and concern of ordinary members of the public.

"We need to make it easier for friends, family, neighbours and the community to tell of their concerns and to do that we need one phone number which people can call and be given advise and guidance."

Ruth Stark from the British Association of Social Workers agreed, saying that children tell what is happening to them in many different ways and it does not necessarily involve social workers and the police.

She added: "We have to be very good and very well trained to listen to what children have to say.

"They do it sometimes straight forwardly but very often it is in a roundabout way and we have to be tuned into that kind of listening."