Hughes asks Laming to review Climbie recommendations after Baby P convictions

The men were convicted of causing or allowing the death of a 17-month-old boy, known as Baby P, in Haringey, London. It is the same authority that came under fire when eight-year-old Climbié died in February 2000.

Baby P had been on the authority's child protection register and was visited 60 times over the last eight months of his life by social workers, health visitors, doctors and nurses.

Today Hughes said: "To ensure that the reforms that the government set out following Lord Laming's inquiry are being implemented systematically, Ed Balls and I have today asked Lord Laming to prepare an independent report of progress being made across the country."

Laming's review into Climbié's murder led to a radical rethink of the child protection system.

John Coughlan, chair of the Children's Inter-Agency Group, which brings together the lead agencies in children's services, said: "When an individual tragedy such as this occurs, it is vital that we all learn from any mistakes which were made, and redouble our efforts to protect children from harm."

Sharon Shoesmith, chair of the local safeguarding children board in Haringey, said: "In line with government guidelines for such circumstances, we immediately set up an independent review into what happened and have acted on every recommendation."