THE peer at the centre of the investigation into social services following the death of Baby P visited a St Albans school last week to talk to sixth formers.
Lord Laming, once director of social services at Herts county council before becoming chief inspector of the Social Services Inspectorate, was the guest of Sandringham School as part of the Peers in Schools programme.
Peers visit schools to give a talk to students about the work and role of the House of Lords and Lord Laming gave his audience a brief history of the Palace of Westminster before explaining the composition of the Upper House.
He outlined the working day of Parliament and explained the importance of the role of the Lords in scrutinising legislation, holding the government of the day to account and debating contemporary issues.
He encouraged students to consider whether the House of Lords should be entirely reformed to the point where it becomes a second elected chamber or should remain as it is.
Lord Laming was given a life peerage in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 1998 and, since becoming a member of the House of Lords, has chaired the public inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie.
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