Take children's commissioner more seriously, Welsh ministers told

Rocio Cifuentes became Wales' children's commissioner in April last year

Wales' children's commissioner has called on the Welsh government to take her office "more seriously".

Rocio Cifuentes said there was a "real danger of tokenism" not only with her role, but with other commissioners and the Youth Parliament too.

The children's commissioner acts as a watchdog for children's rights, looking at decisions taken by public bodies including the Welsh government.

Ms Cifuentes was giving evidence to a Senedd committee.

She said she would like to see "greater accountability and responsiveness" to the recommendations that her office makes, adding that insufficient powers and a lack of independence made the work more challenging.

• Racism in schools being normalised, says report

• Child payments would help poor families - official

• FM defends child poverty approach after criticism

"The Welsh government funds our office, decides on our budget, appoints me," said Ms Cifuentes.

"This is why I do think why it would be better if it was a Senedd appointment and I was accountable to the Senedd rather than the government."

The Welsh government has refused previous calls to increase the powers of the children's commissioner.

But a spokesperson said that "the role of children's commissioner is important as an independent voice in speaking up for children, informing our decision-making as a government and holding public bodies to account".

'Frustration'

Rachel Thomas, head of policy and public affairs for the children's commissioner, said the role was to scrutinise the work of the Welsh government.

She said therefore there was no "incentive to review and extend our powers by the very people who appoint our office".

She questioned whether it was "time to look at the accountability and appointment of the office, so that there is that separation from government who is the main stakeholder who we would have the power to review".

The committee was also told that the children's commissioner was actively considering a challenge to a Welsh government policy and was currently "seeking legal advice".

Rocio Cifuentes stated her frustration at the government's response to her recommendations.

"I would dearly like to see the government take more seriously the office and the recommendations we make," she said.