Written question asked by Tom Cox (Labour) on Wednesday, 13 November 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 26 November 2002. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Tuesday, 26 November 2002 on behalf of the Lord Chancellor's Department.

Lord Chancellors Dept

Question: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, If he will list the actions taken by the Government to prevent child abduction from the UK. (Failed OPQ)

Answer: Mr. Cox: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the actions taken by the Government to prevent child abduction from the UK. [81479] Ms Rosie Winterton: The Lord Chancellor's Department works closely with the other UK jurisdictions, the Scottish Executive, the Northern Ireland Court Service and with other Government Departments, to prevent child abduction as far as possible. The Lord Chancellor's Department provides core funding to the charity Reunite--International Child Abduction Centre, which provides advice and support to parents in fear of, or who have suffered, the abduction of their child. The UK Government contributes towards the cost of their advice line, and is supporting initiatives for a prevention awareness campaign which will begin in England and Wales in March 2003. LCD provides the Secretariat for the Child Abduction Co-ordinating Group in which other Departments and agencies participate. The group promoted the change in passport regulations which means that a child has to have a separate passport, reducing the risk of a forged entry on a parent's passport being used to remove the child from the UK. The group meets quarterly and is looking at other action to raise awareness and prevent child abduction. Provisions of the Children Act 1989 allow the courts to prohibit the removal of the child from the UK.

Secondary information