The NSPCC has criticised the Government for failing to mention new laws regarding child deaths in this year's Queen's Speech.

Many children in the UK die as a result of abuse and neglect but the Government and devolved assemblies are unable to form an accurate picture of the extent of fatal child abuse throughout the UK, argues the charity.

"There is no systematic collection and analysis of data in relation to all child deaths, including those deaths, which occur as a result of abuse and neglect, and those that die in suspicious circumstances," said a spokesperson.

The decision to undertake a review of the circumstances surrounding a child's death is currently taken by local authorities at the discretion of Area Child Protection Committees, guided by provisions in the Children Act (1989).

But there is considerable differentiation across the UK in their response to the investigation and review of child deaths.

The charity is calling on the Government to develop its understanding of child deaths and introduce nationally agreed targets to reduce child deaths through abuse opr neglect.

"The NSPCC believes that independent, multi-disciplinary child death review teams (CDRTs) should be established on a statutory basis," said the spokesperson

He added: "Child deaths from abuse and neglect are currently hidden in the UK. We have no accurate picture of how and why many children die.

"Unless we collect statistical data on the causes and circumstances of death we will never be able to understand the extent of the problem and crucially develop the appropriate preventative strategies to reduce the number of deaths in the future.

"Child Death Review Teams must be placed on a statutory basis to ensure that each child's death is fairly and systematically reviewed."

The charity also attacked the Government for failing to mention new laws to tighten up the management of sex offenders and to increase public awareness of how to protect children from abuse.

"The Government has made real progress in protecting children from sex offenders," said a spokesperson. "However, they need as a matter of urgency to introduce indeterminate sentences for highly dangerous sex offenders and give the voluntary sector access to free criminal record checks.

"A national public information campaign is needed to heighten awareness of how to keep our children safe. Child protection is everyone's responsibility and deserves the highest priority."

It is calling for the most dangerous sex offenders to be given indeterminate jail sentences and warned that a soon-to-be introduced scheme to encourage voluntary organisations to police check helpers who would have contact with children was prohibitively expensive and should be free for the voluntary sector.

"We also believe that parents should also have direct access to criminal record checks when they employ someone to supervise the child," says the charity.