Margaret Hodge's appointment as minister for children continued to attract a barrage of criticism last week from the press and opposition MPs (see News, page 4). One unfortunate consequence of the furore has been the delay of the publication of the Green Paper on children at risk. Downing Street's claims that this vital paper has only been held up because Tony Blair wants to present it personally alongside Margaret Hodge and is too busy at the moment will fool no-one. It would obviously be impossible to publish the Green Paper in the midst of this storm, but the excuse given...