Children and Adoption Bill (HL). Committee stage first sitting (morning). Programme motion agreed to. Clauses 9 to 14 agreed to.

Children and Adoption Bill (HL). Committee stage first sitting (morning). Programme motion agreed to. Clauses 9 to 14 agreed to.

My Lords, does the Minister agree that if we are to achieve what so many of us wish—meaningful contact between non-resident parents and children—it is crucial, especially in marginal cases, that there is a high quality supervisor who does not just sit in the corner of the room taking notes,...

My Lords, does the Minister agree that if we are to achieve what so many of us wish—meaningful contact between non-resident parents and children—it is crucial, especially in marginal cases, that there is a high quality supervisor who does not just sit in the corner of the room taking notes,...

My Lords, I was contemplating reading your Lordships a chunk of Chetneys Family Law on deserving and undeserving fathers but, at this late hour, I shall spare the House. It is all very well working on the superstructure of the arrangements for helping separating parents and children, but if the...

My Lords, I was contemplating reading your Lordships a chunk of Chetneys Family Law on deserving and undeserving fathers but, at this late hour, I shall spare the House. It is all very well working on the superstructure of the arrangements for helping separating parents and children, but if the...

My Lords, I, too, support the amendment. I greatly admire the single-minded attention to the matter that the noble Baronesses, Lady Gould and Lady Thornton, have given on this occasion and in the past. I also remember how passionately the noble Earl, Lord Russell, felt about this issue. I first...

My Lords, I, too, support the amendment. I greatly admire the single-minded attention to the matter that the noble Baronesses, Lady Gould and Lady Thornton, have given on this occasion and in the past. I also remember how passionately the noble Earl, Lord Russell, felt about this issue. I first...

My Lords, I will not speak about parenting plans, but I want to say a quick word about mediation, because it is a word that is banded out and has many meanings depending where you stand on the professional spectrum. There is a real misunderstanding about the role of mediation...

My Lords, I will not speak about parenting plans, but I want to say a quick word about mediation, because it is a word that is banded out and has many meanings depending where you stand on the professional spectrum. There is a real misunderstanding about the role of mediation...

My Lords, I support these three amendments in principle, because I have been much influenced by what I have read about the system in Florida. The information has been introduced to me by Dr Hamish Cameron, with whom I have worked as a trustee of the Caldecott Community and I...

My Lords, I support these three amendments in principle, because I have been much influenced by what I have read about the system in Florida. The information has been introduced to me by Dr Hamish Cameron, with whom I have worked as a trustee of the Caldecott Community and I...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Northbourne, for raising an important issue that he continually keeps us focused on: our responsibilities and obligations as parents, and particularly the rights of fathers, which is an issue of great concern to him. I will not rise to the challenge of saying...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Northbourne, for raising an important issue that he continually keeps us focused on: our responsibilities and obligations as parents, and particularly the rights of fathers, which is an issue of great concern to him. I will not rise to the challenge of saying...

moved Amendment No. 20:"Page 2, line 6, at end insert—" ““(ii)   may, by addressing a person’s violent behaviour, enable or facilitate contact with a child;”” On Question, amendment agreed to.

moved Amendment No. 20:"Page 2, line 6, at end insert—" ““(ii)   may, by addressing a person’s violent behaviour, enable or facilitate contact with a child;”” On Question, amendment agreed to.

My Lords, I support the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley: the message that we send to parents is of huge importance, and that message will not get through if it is buried in case law. I added my name to Amendment No. 1 because I believe the principle that, wherever possible and safe,...

My Lords, I support the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley: the message that we send to parents is of huge importance, and that message will not get through if it is buried in case law. I added my name to Amendment No. 1 because I believe the principle that, wherever possible and safe,...

My Lords, I shall speak to Amendment Nos. 11 and 12 in my name in this group. First, I will not be in a position to support the amendments of the official Opposition in this group today. That is not because I do not think it is highly desirable to have a sensible...

My Lords, I shall speak to Amendment Nos. 11 and 12 in my name in this group. First, I will not be in a position to support the amendments of the official Opposition in this group today. That is not because I do not think it is highly desirable to have a sensible...

moved Amendment No. 1:"Before Clause 1, insert the following new clause—" ““PRESUMPTION IN FAVOUR OF CO-PARENTING    ““CO-PARENTING    After section 1(1) of the Children Act 1989 (c. 41) (welfare of the child) insert— ““(1A)   In respect of subsection (1)(a) the court shall, unless a good reason to the contrary be shown, act on the...

moved Amendment No. 1:"Before Clause 1, insert the following new clause—" ““PRESUMPTION IN FAVOUR OF CO-PARENTING    ““CO-PARENTING    After section 1(1) of the Children Act 1989 (c. 41) (welfare of the child) insert— ““(1A)   In respect of subsection (1)(a) the court shall, unless a good reason to the contrary be shown, act on the...

My Lords, I declare an interest as the chair of CAFCASS. I have only a little to add to the magnificent input from my deputy chair, the noble Baroness, Lady Howarth of Breckland, but some things bear repeating. We must remember that 90 per cent of all parents who separate make...

My Lords, I declare an interest as the chair of CAFCASS. I have only a little to add to the magnificent input from my deputy chair, the noble Baroness, Lady Howarth of Breckland, but some things bear repeating. We must remember that 90 per cent of all parents who separate make...

My Lords, I do indeed, as I know the noble Baroness too well to think otherwise. I was simply commenting on her being a children’s champion. Over the past few weeks, I have spoken to judges, magistrates and our own staff, who all consider that such an amendment would simply...

My Lords, I do indeed, as I know the noble Baroness too well to think otherwise. I was simply commenting on her being a children’s champion. Over the past few weeks, I have spoken to judges, magistrates and our own staff, who all consider that such an amendment would simply...

My Lords, does the noble Baroness accept that I do not so believe?

My Lords, does the noble Baroness accept that I do not so believe?

My Lords, I understand absolutely the sentiments behind the amendment. I believe that all sides of the House have the interests of children securely at heart, I simply think that we come at the issue from different positions. I shall outline why I cannot support the amendment. First, let us...

My Lords, I understand absolutely the sentiments behind the amendment. I believe that all sides of the House have the interests of children securely at heart, I simply think that we come at the issue from different positions. I shall outline why I cannot support the amendment. First, let us...

My Lords, I agree that many people find contact issue difficult. I believe that that is because we do not have the right kind of remedies to ensure that contact can be enforced. That is not the same as the initial contact orders being made with the paramountcy of the...

My Lords, I agree that many people find contact issue difficult. I believe that that is because we do not have the right kind of remedies to ensure that contact can be enforced. That is not the same as the initial contact orders being made with the paramountcy of the...

My Lords, as I made clear, I am not arguing against the paramountcy principle. In many cases there is no question of violence or risk to the child. but the non-resident parent cannot get the court to agree to extra contact. The reasons adduced are not what most people would...

My Lords, as I made clear, I am not arguing against the paramountcy principle. In many cases there is no question of violence or risk to the child. but the non-resident parent cannot get the court to agree to extra contact. The reasons adduced are not what most people would...

moved Amendment No. 9:"Before Clause 1, insert the following new clause—"    ““PARENTING TIME PLANS (1)   The Secretary of State must issue guidance for the courts and for separating parents called parenting time plans (““the guidance””). (2)   The plans must outline the kind of contact orders the court is likely to impose in a...

moved Amendment No. 9:"Before Clause 1, insert the following new clause—"    ““PARENTING TIME PLANS (1)   The Secretary of State must issue guidance for the courts and for separating parents called parenting time plans (““the guidance””). (2)   The plans must outline the kind of contact orders the court is likely to impose in a...

My Lords, we should not change the law on the basis of anecdotal evidence, strong as that is, but the point is that the Napo survey provides us with our first, revealing glimpse of the decisions being taken by courts. If the statistic that I quoted were substantially less than...

My Lords, we should not change the law on the basis of anecdotal evidence, strong as that is, but the point is that the Napo survey provides us with our first, revealing glimpse of the decisions being taken by courts. If the statistic that I quoted were substantially less than...

My Lords, I was not so much talking about statistics as about looking at what happens in the process. The noble Earl would accept that neither of us should change the law on the basis of anecdotal evidence.

My Lords, I was not so much talking about statistics as about looking at what happens in the process. The noble Earl would accept that neither of us should change the law on the basis of anecdotal evidence.