In 1990, his department was strongly criticised for its handling of a case that centred on allegations made to Hertfordshire social services by the father of a young girl who was concerned that his daughter was being sexually abused by her mother's boyfriend.

[6] He was knighted in 1996[7] and was created a life peer on 27 July 1998 as Baron Laming, of Tewin in the county of Hertfordshire.

Laming's appointment was controversial because of his previous post as head of Hertfordshire county council's social services department.

[4] Liberal Democrat spokesman Paul Burstow said, "the findings of the ombudsman in the Hertfordshire case must give rise to questions about Lord Laming's appointment to head this inquiry"; and Conservative Party spokesman Liam Fox said, "I think the government maybe should have thought twice about this and maybe, even yet, they will think again".

Lord Laming was appointed in November 2008 to investigate Britain's social services on a national basis following the death of Baby P.[16] The subject caused heated arguments in the House of Commons between Gordon Brown and David Cameron forcing the Commons Speaker to intervene on a number of occasions to restore order.

The whole organisation ought to focus on the frontline, on what’s happening to children, and making sure they intervene earlier rather than later and when it’s too late,”[18]