---

Children and Adoption Bill [HL]

In answer to the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, I believe that sperm donors are protected from parental responsibility. They have to be; it could not be any other way. We welcome the amendments of the noble Lord, Lord Northbourne. I cannot overemphasise the importance of all that both he and the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, said. Parental responsibility strikes at the heart of all that we are debating. Sadly, too many children lose contact with one of the parents they love because that parent simply walks away, dumping one life to forge another. Perhaps the remedy starts way before this point, in proper parenting classes in schools, so that people know exactly what is expected of them with the very precious gift of a child. Like the noble Lord, Lord Northbourne, we would welcome an insight into the Government’s views on parental responsibility.