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No early examination of childcare services

Tynwald has rejected a call for an external inspection of the Island's childcare services, at this stage.

East Douglas MHK Chris Robertshaw told the court it had been four years since the Commission of Inquiry into the Care of Young People recommended an examination, and it should take place without delay.

However, at the end of a long debate which continued until around midnight, members voted 21-10 in favour of an amendment from Minister for Social Care Martyn Quayle.

It means self-inspections will continue, with no findings being made public until the first ever external evaluation, across the full range of childcare services, in 2012.

Chief constable Mike Langdon is confident the required standards will be achieved (play audio file):

The Commission of Inquiry was established to examine the circumstances surrounding the sexual assaults and murders of 16-year-olds Samatha Barton and George Green in 2002. Samantha was in the care of the Island's social services at the time of her death.

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