Written question asked by Nicholas Winterton (Conservative) on Thursday, 30 October 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 6 November 2003. It was answered by David Lammy (Labour) on Thursday, 6 November 2003 on behalf of the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Dept for Constitutional Affairs

Question: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 22 October 2003, 411 c631, on divorced parents, if he will estimate the percentage of cases in which divorced mothers are successful in obtaining leave to remove their children from the United Kingdom. - Inc ref to Children Act 1989 and include fact that figures not available.

Answer: Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to his answer of 22 October 2003, Official Report, column 631W, on divorced parents, if he will estimate the percentage of cases in which divorced mothers are successful in obtaining leave to remove their children from the United Kingdom. [136100] Mr. Lammy: We do not have the data available to enable such an estimate to be made. Figures are kept of the total number of orders made under section 13 of the Children Act 1989 for removal from the jurisdiction since 2000 (when figures were first collected). Separate figures are not held for mothers and fathers.

Secondary information