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Proceeding contribution from Baroness Howarth of Breckland (Crossbench) in the House of Lords on Tuesday, 11 October 2005. It occurred during Debate on bill and Committee proceeding on Children and Adoption Bill [HL].


Children and Adoption Bill [HL]

May I make an uncharacteristic intervention? One amendment suggests that the mediator should set the amount of time that they will take for mediation. That is a recipe for financial disaster. We should remember the problems that CAFCASS has had in working with and finding a way through private contractors. We must be sure that we understand about how the process is managed. While I accept that the issues about mediation are complicated, one of the amendments suggests that the mediator will be able to set the time frame. As someone in the field, I think that mediation can be helpful. We must think through carefully, as the noble Baroness said, what mediation means. I am fairly wedded to ensuring that people get to a programme of information right at the beginning, as is outlined in the existing government document.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
674 c26GC 
Session
2005-06
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords Grand Committee
Subjects
Children Adoption Contact orders Absent parents Domestic abuse Family proceedings Protection Parents Parental responsibility
Legislation
Children and Adoption Bill (HL) 2005-06
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk