My Lords, there is an African proverb which says:

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”.

We are coming to the end of a very long legislative journey. It began in 2002 when my noble friend Lord Lester drafted the first civil partnership...

My Lords, there is an African proverb which says:

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”.

We are coming to the end of a very long legislative journey. It began in 2002 when my noble friend Lord Lester drafted the first civil partnership...

Yes, my Lords, but since the last time we have won the Ashes.

Yes, my Lords, but since the last time we have won the Ashes.

My Lords, I do not know whether the noble Lord, Lord Adonis, is aware of this but I believe that he is the third Minister who has been at the crease since the noble Earl, Lord Howe, and I raised this subject. The noble Earl and I take it in turn...

My Lords, I do not know whether the noble Lord, Lord Adonis, is aware of this but I believe that he is the third Minister who has been at the crease since the noble Earl, Lord Howe, and I raised this subject. The noble Earl and I take it in turn...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply. I also thank the noble Earl, Lord Howe, for humanising a very technical matter. I thank the Minister, but he will understand that on this side of the House, we have absolutely no intention of setting up loopholes and enabling people...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply. I also thank the noble Earl, Lord Howe, for humanising a very technical matter. I thank the Minister, but he will understand that on this side of the House, we have absolutely no intention of setting up loopholes and enabling people...

moved Amendment No. 32:"Page 16, line 40, at end insert—" ““(   )   In section 85 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c. 38) (restriction on taking children out) in sub-section (2) after ““paragraph (a)”” insert— ““(aa)   the High Court has given leave for the child to leave the United Kingdom to be placed with the...

moved Amendment No. 32:"Page 16, line 40, at end insert—" ““(   )   In section 85 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c. 38) (restriction on taking children out) in sub-section (2) after ““paragraph (a)”” insert— ““(aa)   the High Court has given leave for the child to leave the United Kingdom to be placed with the...

moved Amendment No. 14:"Before Clause 1, insert the following new clause—"    ““DEFAULT CONTACT ARRANGEMENTS (1)   The Secretary of State shall by regulations establish a range of contact arrangements, to be known as ““the default contact arrangements””, appropriate for children of different age groups. (2)   In the case of any child, following the separation...

moved Amendment No. 14:"Before Clause 1, insert the following new clause—"    ““DEFAULT CONTACT ARRANGEMENTS (1)   The Secretary of State shall by regulations establish a range of contact arrangements, to be known as ““the default contact arrangements””, appropriate for children of different age groups. (2)   In the case of any child, following the separation...

My Lords, I am encouraged by having met that first hurdle. I hope that by the next stage noble Lords will understand what we are trying to do. In the mean time, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendments Nos. 15 to 18 not moved.] Clause 1 [Contact activity...

My Lords, I am encouraged by having met that first hurdle. I hope that by the next stage noble Lords will understand what we are trying to do. In the mean time, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendments Nos. 15 to 18 not moved.] Clause 1 [Contact activity...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Morris, and the noble Lord, Lord Northbourne, for their support. The first point to make to the Minister is that paragraphs 2(b) and (3) of this amendment deal with precisely the kind of case that involves violent and abusive parents. This amendment seeks...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Morris, and the noble Lord, Lord Northbourne, for their support. The first point to make to the Minister is that paragraphs 2(b) and (3) of this amendment deal with precisely the kind of case that involves violent and abusive parents. This amendment seeks...

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Earl, Lord Howe, for returning to this subject, not least because it enables me again to ask the Minister a question that I asked in Grand Committee and I believe has not yet been answered. The service is provided not only...

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Earl, Lord Howe, for returning to this subject, not least because it enables me again to ask the Minister a question that I asked in Grand Committee and I believe has not yet been answered. The service is provided not only...

My Lords, for clarification, will the noble Baroness say whether, when she talks about dealing with her opposite numbers in Europe where there is a particular problem with a country, she means countries in the European Union or countries outside the European Union with which all member states have problems?

My Lords, for clarification, will the noble Baroness say whether, when she talks about dealing with her opposite numbers in Europe where there is a particular problem with a country, she means countries in the European Union or countries outside the European Union with which all member states have problems?

My Lords, I offer our support to the noble Baroness, Lady Morris. I do so principally because I watched a couple of television programmes on the subject that were some of the most harrowing that I have ever seen. I understand that, although PACT may not be the Government’s favourite...

My Lords, I offer our support to the noble Baroness, Lady Morris. I do so principally because I watched a couple of television programmes on the subject that were some of the most harrowing that I have ever seen. I understand that, although PACT may not be the Government’s favourite...