Written question asked by Sandra Gidley (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 17 October 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 October 2002. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Thursday, 24 October 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 by country the number of child abduction cases being dealt with by the Child Abduction Unit which have exceeded the six week deadline for a hearing and are awaiting a resolution.

Answer: Sandra Gidley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list by country the number of child abduction cases being dealt with by the Child Abduction Unit which have exceeded the six week deadline for a hearing and are awaiting a resolution. [76407] Ms Rosie Winterton: Article 11 of the Hague Convention makes reference to a six week ``deadline''. This Article draws to the attention of Contracting States the urgency with which these proceedings should be dealt with. Article 11 does not oblige the courts to conclude a case within six weeks. Common delays are where the country in question is unable to locate the child or where additional enquiries are necessary to assist the court in their decision. The Child Abduction Unit currently has 105 cases outstanding where children have been wrongfully removed to, or retained in, other Hague Convention countries. Without examining each case it is impossible to say exactly how many of these cases have exceeded the six week period, but it will be the vast majority.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 76407; 391 c482W;391 c480W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Children Abduction Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction Child Abduction Unit
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk