Herbert Laming, Baron Laming
Encyclopedia
William Herbert Laming, Baron Laming, CBE
(born 19 July 1936) is
a British
social work
er and Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords
. On 29 June 2011, it was announced that he had been elected to succeed Baroness D'Souza
as Convenor of the Crossbench Peers; he will take up the post in September 2011 when the House returns from its summer recess. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne
, he gained a diploma in Applied Social Studies
from Durham University
in 1960.
He worked as a probation officer
and psychiatric social worker in Nottingham
, before moving to Hertfordshire County Council
in 1971, becoming director of social services in 1975. In 1990, his department was strongly criticised for its handling of a case that centred on allegations made to Hertfordshire social services by the father of a young girl who was concerned that his daughter was being sexually abused
by her mother's boyfriend. The child was interviewed in front of her mother, a violation of official guidelines. Police and social services performed an overnight raid on his house and took his daughter to her mother and her mother's boyfriend. Laming denied him access to an internal inquiry report. In 1995, the local government ombudsman
made a finding of 'maladministration
with injustice' against the department. He was chief inspector of the social services inspectorate from 1991 until 1998. He has worked as an advisor to the Local Government Association
, and is a past President of the Association of Directors of Social Services. He is involved with many social services organisations.
In 1985, he was made a Commander of the British Empire. He was knighted in 1996 and was created a life peer
in 1998 as Baron Laming, of Tewin
in the county of Hertfordshire. In 1999, he was given an honorary
Doctor of Science
by his old university.
In 2000, he was appointed head of the Harold Shipman inquiry
, originally a private inquiry. However, relatives of Shipman's victims wanted a public inquiry
, and they won a judicial review
, forcing the inquiry to become public. Dame Janet Smith replaced Laming as the chairman. In the same year, he also investigated management in the prison service
.
In 2001, he chaired the public inquiry into eight-year-old Victoria Climbié's death. Laming's appointment was controversial because of his previous post as head of Hertfordshire county council's social services department. The father of the daughter in the Hertfordshire case said, "I don't see how he has the qualifications or experience to be able to lead an investigation into another borough which has been failing to protect a child in exactly the same manner that his own authority failed to protect a child in 1990". Liberal Democrat
spokesman Paul Burstow
said, "the findings of the ombudsman in the Hertfordshire case must give rise to questions about Lord Laming's appointment to head this inquiry"; and Conservative Party
spokesman Liam Fox
said, "I think the government maybe should have thought twice about this and maybe, even yet, they will think again". The Department for Health
, however, said that they were "fully confident that he is the right person to conduct the inquiry". His final report was published on 28 February 2003, and led to many child protection reforms. The report led to the formation of the Every Child Matters
programme, a framework to improve the lives of children; the introduction of the Children Act 2004
, an Act of Parliament
that provides the legislative base for many of the reforms; the creation of ContactPoint, a database that will hold information on all children in England and Wales
; and the creation of the post of children's commissioner
, to co-ordinate efforts to improve child protection.
Lord Laming was appointed in November 2008 to investigate Britain's social services on a national basis following the death of Baby P
. The subject caused heated arguments in the House of Commons between Gordon Brown and David Cameron forcing the Commons Speaker to intervene on a number of occasions to restore order.
In June 2011, Lord Laming was elected Convenor of the Crossbench Peers in the House of Lords.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 19 July 1936) is
a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
er and Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. On 29 June 2011, it was announced that he had been elected to succeed Baroness D'Souza
Frances D'Souza, Baroness D'Souza
Frances Gertrude Claire D'Souza, Baroness D'Souza, CMG, PC is a British scientist and life peer in the House of Lords. She is currently Lord Speaker, having taken office on 1 September 2011.-Biography:...
as Convenor of the Crossbench Peers; he will take up the post in September 2011 when the House returns from its summer recess. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, he gained a diploma in Applied Social Studies
Social studies
Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
from Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
in 1960.
He worked as a probation officer
Probation officer
Parole officers and probation officers play a role in criminal justice systems by supervising offenders released from incarceration or sentenced to non-custodial sanctions such as community service...
and psychiatric social worker in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, before moving to Hertfordshire County Council
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
in 1971, becoming director of social services in 1975. In 1990, his department was strongly criticised for its handling of a case that centred on allegations made to Hertfordshire social services by the father of a young girl who was concerned that his daughter was being sexually abused
Child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
by her mother's boyfriend. The child was interviewed in front of her mother, a violation of official guidelines. Police and social services performed an overnight raid on his house and took his daughter to her mother and her mother's boyfriend. Laming denied him access to an internal inquiry report. In 1995, the local government ombudsman
Local Government Ombudsman
A Local Government Ombudsman is an official employed by the Commission for Local Administration in England , a body of commissioners established under the Local Government Act 1974 to investigate complaints about councils and certain other bodies in England. Each of three Local Government Ombudsmen...
made a finding of 'maladministration
Maladministration
Maladministration is a political term which describes the actions of a government body which can be seen as causing an injustice.The law in the United Kingdom says Ombudsman must investigate ‘maladministration’...
with injustice' against the department. He was chief inspector of the social services inspectorate from 1991 until 1998. He has worked as an advisor to the Local Government Association
Local Government Association
The Local Government Association is a voluntary lobbying organisation acting as the voice of the local government sector in England and Wales, which seeks to be an authoritative and effective advocate on its behalf....
, and is a past President of the Association of Directors of Social Services. He is involved with many social services organisations.
In 1985, he was made a Commander of the British Empire. He was knighted in 1996 and was created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
in 1998 as Baron Laming, of Tewin
Tewin
Tewin is a village in the English county of Hertfordshire, between the towns of Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, Welwyn and the county town Hertford, it is within commuting distance of London...
in the county of Hertfordshire. In 1999, he was given an honorary
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
by his old university.
In 2000, he was appointed head of the Harold Shipman inquiry
Harold Shipman
Harold Fredrick Shipman was an English doctor and one of the most prolific serial killers in recorded history with 218 murders being positively ascribed to him....
, originally a private inquiry. However, relatives of Shipman's victims wanted a public inquiry
Public inquiry
A Tribunal of Inquiry is an official review of events or actions ordered by a government body in Common Law countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland or Canada. Such a public inquiry differs from a Royal Commission in that a public inquiry accepts evidence and conducts its hearings in a more...
, and they won a judicial review
Judicial review
Judicial review is the doctrine under which legislative and executive actions are subject to review by the judiciary. Specific courts with judicial review power must annul the acts of the state when it finds them incompatible with a higher authority...
, forcing the inquiry to become public. Dame Janet Smith replaced Laming as the chairman. In the same year, he also investigated management in the prison service
Her Majesty's Prison Service
Her Majesty's Prison Service is a part of the National Offender Management Service of the Government of the United Kingdom tasked with managing most of the prisons within England and Wales...
.
In 2001, he chaired the public inquiry into eight-year-old Victoria Climbié's death. Laming's appointment was controversial because of his previous post as head of Hertfordshire county council's social services department. The father of the daughter in the Hertfordshire case said, "I don't see how he has the qualifications or experience to be able to lead an investigation into another borough which has been failing to protect a child in exactly the same manner that his own authority failed to protect a child in 1990". Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
spokesman Paul Burstow
Paul Burstow
Paul Kenneth Burstow , British politician, is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Sutton and Cheam. In May 2010 he was appointed Minister of State for the Department of Health.-Early life:...
said, "the findings of the ombudsman in the Hertfordshire case must give rise to questions about Lord Laming's appointment to head this inquiry"; and Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
spokesman Liam Fox
Liam Fox
Liam Fox MP is a British Conservative politician, Member of Parliament for North Somerset, and former Secretary of State for Defence....
said, "I think the government maybe should have thought twice about this and maybe, even yet, they will think again". The Department for Health
Department of Health (United Kingdom)
The Department of Health is a department of the United Kingdom government with responsibility for government policy for health and social care matters and for the National Health Service in England along with a few elements of the same matters which are not otherwise devolved to the Scottish,...
, however, said that they were "fully confident that he is the right person to conduct the inquiry". His final report was published on 28 February 2003, and led to many child protection reforms. The report led to the formation of the Every Child Matters
Every Child Matters
Every Child Matters is a UK government initiative that was launched in 2003, at least partly in response to the death of Victoria Climbié...
programme, a framework to improve the lives of children; the introduction of the Children Act 2004
Children Act 2004
The Children Act 2004 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.The Act amended the Children Act 1989, largely in consequence of the Victoria Climbié inquiry....
, an Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
that provides the legislative base for many of the reforms; the creation of ContactPoint, a database that will hold information on all children in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
; and the creation of the post of children's commissioner
Children's Commissioner for England
The post of Children's Commissioner for England was established under the Children Act 2004 . The Children's Commissioner has a duty to promote awareness of the views and interests of all children in England, in particular those whose voices are least likely to be heard, to the people who make...
, to co-ordinate efforts to improve child protection.
Lord Laming was appointed in November 2008 to investigate Britain's social services on a national basis following the death of Baby P
Death of Baby P
Peter Connelly was an English 17-month old boy who died in London after suffering more than 50 injuries over an eight-month period, during which he was repeatedly seen by Haringey Children's services and NHS health professionals...
. The subject caused heated arguments in the House of Commons between Gordon Brown and David Cameron forcing the Commons Speaker to intervene on a number of occasions to restore order.
In June 2011, Lord Laming was elected Convenor of the Crossbench Peers in the House of Lords.