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Children and Adoption Bill

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman, although I am not that much of a newcomer as I have been in the Chamber for almost an hour. There is a slight problem with the hon. Gentleman’s use of the word ““equal””. When people separate and try to set up arrangements for their children, under existing law—whatever lawyers may say—it is in fact the mother who has care of the children and will decide when the father sees them. That is why many agreements are made without problem. Fathers fully understand that they cannot fight in the court for a 50–50 arrangement because the court will not give it to them.