Interview: Beverley Hughes, minister for children, young people andfamilies - A different kind of minister

With the recent launch of that paper, it is a resource the children'sminister will doubtless have been making much use of over the last fewdays. But those working in children's services can rest assured that allof the recent focus on teenagers has not diverted her attention awayfrom the challenges elsewhere.

"A huge priority for me is the delivery agenda we've got now in terms ofchildren's centres, extended schools and the 10-year childcarestrategy," she insists. "And there are the important things thatunderpin that, particularly the workforce strategy, which I've spent alot of time thinking about over the past few weeks."

Hughes is a former probation officer and social policy lecturer whosecareer as an MP has not been without controversy. In 2001, she hit theheadlines after describing Channel 4's Brass Eye satire on paedophiliaas "unspeakably sick", without having seen it. In 2004, she resigned asimmigration minister after admitting she had "unwittingly" misled peopleover her knowledge of lax visa checks.