Local councils would be stripped of the responsibility for running children's homes under new measures to be unveiled by Conservative party leader William Hague.

Charities and churches will be asked to take over the running of homes after a string of abuse scandals involving vulnerable children.

Local councils will then pay the groups for running the homes and would also be given responsibility for checking standards.

The Conservatives are also to back the appointment of a Children's Commissioner for children in care.

The Commissioner will monitor the interests of children in care, report to Parliament on possible abuses and also advise the Government on the effects of legislation.

A Conservative source said: "We believe that there should be a clear advocate for children on any legislative matter which affects them directly. We have a duty to protect those children in care."

The Conservatives point out that children who have been in care are more likely to be unemployed when they leave school, 60 times more likely to become homeless and make up a quarter of the adult prison population.

They believe splitting the organisations who provide care from those who pay for it will drive up standards.

A party official told The Sunday Telegraph: "There should be a split between the ownership of care homes and the responsibility of local councils.

"It is not a good idea to have the same people who are responsible for monitoring child care to be running the homes."

The policy is one of a raft to be unveiled next month in a major political offensive by the Tories.