London - Britain acknowledged yesterday that the state was to blame for 20 years of chronic abuse inside children's homes and promised tighter safeguards in the future.
"These vulnerable children living away from home are the responsibility of us all. Many have been let down. We will make sure that in future they are looked after better," the Health Secretary, Mr Frank Dobson, told parliament.
He released a report on sexual, physical and emotional abuse of children in care, saying the problem pointed to a system in disarray.