It is crucial that whoever is appointed to chair the new Safeguarding Board is independent from political pressure.

That was the message from David Cretney MLC, who moved the Safeguarding Bill through the second reading and clauses stages in Legislative Council last week.

The bill will create a new Safeguarding Board, on a statutory footing, to replace the non-statutory boards for children and vulnerable adults that exist now.

It also puts an obligation on organisations that work with children and vulnerable adults to consider safeguarding needs.

It will be down to the chief secretary to appoint a chairman of the board, just as they do currently for the chairmen of the two separate boards.

’It is critical that the chair is independent, and that his or her appointment is free from political interference,’ said Mr Cretney.

’Thus, the chief secretary, in exercising his power of appointment, must exercise it independently and not be subject to the direction of Tynwald, its branches, the Council of Ministers or a minister.’

The Bill also gives the Cabinet Office the power to issue directions to the board, possibly to ask it to investigate a matter that may not come under its remit automatically.

Mr Cretney said it was important that any such direction should come from Cabinet Office rather than the Council of Ministers.

’The concern would be if the Council of Ministers, which includes the ministers of departments that are subject to the scrutiny by the board - most notably Education, Sport and Culture, Health and Social Care and Home Affairs - were issuing directions, this would plainly and obviously run contrary to a fundamental principle upon which the board operates, that of independence from political influence.’

The Bill will be back before the Legislative Council today (Tuesday) for a third reading.