The children's commissioner for England will not be required to investigate individual complaints but could be directed by the education secretary to investigate those cases that have a wider significance.
However, as Children Now went to press, discussions were under way over whether the commissioner should be able to to initiate investigations himself.
A senior children's charity director said: "We would be concerned if the commissioner could not start his own investigations on a point of principle, not just following government direction."
The commissioner will be independent of government and will report annually to Parliament via the education secretary. This is usual practice for similar roles in government and does not mean he will not be independent of the executive.
The bill stipulates that children and young people must be involved in the selection of the commissioner and his later work.
