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Children and Adoption Bill [HL]

I almost missed my moment, for which I apologise. I want to ask three questions. It is difficult to argue against the case that, wherever possible, children should have contact with both parents. I speak personally when I say that I believe that we should do all that we can to maintain parents in their marital status. Although I recognise the reality that marriages break down, we should do more at the earlier stages, an issue that we shall come to later. However, I have one or two worries about the proposal made by the noble Earl. Recently, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate has looked at domestic violence as it is dealt with in the work of CAFCASS. That report is somewhat critical, although we have to recognise that it takes a small sample, so it does not tell us about practice throughout CAFCASS. However, it has raised issues that we shall need to look at. It indicates that the courts have a presumption of contact, which is really what the noble Earl is suggesting. I see that he is shaking his head and wishes to speak.