During deliberations in the Lords last week, junior education minister Baroness Ashton said the Government was prepared to amend the Children Bill to say the appointee "must have regard" to the convention.
But she refused to add to the job description that the commissioner must "promote children's rights" and rejected a string of other demands.
Ashton dismissed claims that the fact the commissioner's reports would be published by the education secretary meant the commissioner would not be sufficiently independent.
She also promised a Government amendment to ensure the education secretary publishes the reports soon after receiving them. But she refused to support amendments to allow the commissioner to investigate individual cases without having been directed to do so by the education secretary.
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