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Children and Adoption Bill [HL]

I was wondering whether it was appropriate for me to speak at this time. I sometimes lose track about when I can and cannot rise. It is important to recognise that this is a direction in which we are trying to go. I understand all the caveats referred to by the noble Earl, Lord Howe. Talking to children in a distressed state is a difficult task. Some of them may wish the break-up to take place because they have lived through such fraught times, but most children want to maintain contact with their parents and to be in the same place as their dog, their cat and their school. That is a very real desire; I am not being facetious. They want their home to be maintained. Where have moved to a position where more of our staff in private law are seeing children. All of them have training and come from social work, probation or allied social care professions. The issue is the level of training over and above their basic training that we build on. Having looked at some of the work and read some of the reports, the sensitivity, care and concern they convey is excellent. In private law proceedings, it is clear that, having listened to the child, the report that is made is taken into account in the totality of the situation. In public law proceedings, the issue is different.