Daily roundup: Child trafficking, free school meals and social action

The House of Lords has voted overwhelmingly in favour of trafficked children being assigned independent legal guardians to advocate on their behalf and ensure decisions are made in their best interests. The provision is included in the Immigration Bill currently going through parliament. Ecpat UK described the vote as "a major step in the fight to ensure child victims of trafficking are protected and have their rights upheld".

More than 2,700 schools need to improve their kitchen facilities before the government’s universal free school meals offer is launched in September, according to figures obtained by a BBC Freedom of Information request. The policy, announced by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in September last year, was recently legislated under the Children and Families Act.

The Cabinet Office has invested £250,000 in youth projects delivered by the Canal & River Trust. The funding, from the Youth Social Action Journey Fund and the Vulnerable and Disengaged Fund, will enable the charity to deliver two projects led by the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services and vInspired.

Children's charities have welcomed recommendations by the Joint Committee on the Draft Modern Slavery Bill to enhance protections for trafficked children. In its report, the joint committee that there should be a statutory defence of being a victim of modern slavery, protecting children from prosecution for crimes they have been forced to commit; for trafficked children advocates to be given legal status; and for the anti-slavery commissioner powers to be strengthened. Matthew Reed, chief executive of The Children's Society, said: “It is vital the government listens to the committee and accepts these recommendations."