My Lords, the Minister said that the 12-month rule provides a balance between bedding down and the interests of the child and the parent with care. So would two or even three years, so I am not convinced by that argument. The Minister asked for evidence that parents with care...

My Lords, the Minister said that the 12-month rule provides a balance between bedding down and the interests of the child and the parent with care. So would two or even three years, so I am not convinced by that argument. The Minister asked for evidence that parents with care...

moved Amendment No. 7: 7: Schedule 6, page 74, line 39, leave out ““paragraph”” and insert ““Schedule”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, I shall also speak to Amendments Nos. 8 to 18. I drafted this raft of amendments because, on my reconsideration of Schedule 6, I found it more...

moved Amendment No. 7: 7: Schedule 6, page 74, line 39, leave out ““paragraph”” and insert ““Schedule”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, I shall also speak to Amendments Nos. 8 to 18. I drafted this raft of amendments because, on my reconsideration of Schedule 6, I found it more...

moved Amendment No. 19: 19: Schedule 7, page 76, line 18, at end insert— ““(1A) In section 4(10)(aa) (child support maintenance), for ““one year”” substitute ““three years””.”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, I make no apology for having ungrouped this amendment from the amendments in the name of the...

moved Amendment No. 19: 19: Schedule 7, page 76, line 18, at end insert— ““(1A) In section 4(10)(aa) (child support maintenance), for ““one year”” substitute ““three years””.”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, I make no apology for having ungrouped this amendment from the amendments in the name of the...

My Lords, I am all for it being done on a formal basis but, as I said, the Answer received by my honourable friend gave the impression—perhaps it was not intended—that there was no contact at all. In other words, the secondee could not request the information and had to...

My Lords, I am all for it being done on a formal basis but, as I said, the Answer received by my honourable friend gave the impression—perhaps it was not intended—that there was no contact at all. In other words, the secondee could not request the information and had to...

My Lords, I am extremely grateful to the Minister. Of course, I did not in any way want these amendments to give licence to what the Minister called inappropriate access to information and its disclosure. Again, I was using this schedule as something of a hook on which to hang...

My Lords, I am extremely grateful to the Minister. Of course, I did not in any way want these amendments to give licence to what the Minister called inappropriate access to information and its disclosure. Again, I was using this schedule as something of a hook on which to hang...

My Lords, I am not pressing a one-year recommendation. I explained in my opening remarks exactly the reason for my tabling the amendment—that I wanted a timetable. The Minister has reaffirmed the timetable in the White Paper. He also said that in the first few months CMEC would get its...

My Lords, I am not pressing a one-year recommendation. I explained in my opening remarks exactly the reason for my tabling the amendment—that I wanted a timetable. The Minister has reaffirmed the timetable in the White Paper. He also said that in the first few months CMEC would get its...

Well, my Lords, I suppose that I got something out of the Minister’s reply, but I am extremely grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood, for supporting me on this. The something that I got was that Ministers had not thought beyond the White Paper, which is more than a...

Well, my Lords, I suppose that I got something out of the Minister’s reply, but I am extremely grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood, for supporting me on this. The something that I got was that Ministers had not thought beyond the White Paper, which is more than a...

My Lords, the guts of the answer that the Minister has given to estranged parents with children with whom CMEC becomes involved is that it may well not be until 2013 or 2014 that nobody will be on either of the two old schemes. That will disappoint an enormous number...

My Lords, the guts of the answer that the Minister has given to estranged parents with children with whom CMEC becomes involved is that it may well not be until 2013 or 2014 that nobody will be on either of the two old schemes. That will disappoint an enormous number...

My Lords, stating the obvious yes, but this is the first time it has been stated during the proceedings on the Bill. I have been pushing away on all this for a considerable number of months now, aided and abetted sometimes by the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood. It is quite...

My Lords, stating the obvious yes, but this is the first time it has been stated during the proceedings on the Bill. I have been pushing away on all this for a considerable number of months now, aided and abetted sometimes by the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood. It is quite...

My Lords, of course that is what we all hope for. I was rather slow on the uptake in answer to the interruption of the noble Baroness, Lady Hollis, about whether the mother was on benefit. The Bill changes that situation. I am interested in the future rather than the...

My Lords, of course that is what we all hope for. I was rather slow on the uptake in answer to the interruption of the noble Baroness, Lady Hollis, about whether the mother was on benefit. The Bill changes that situation. I am interested in the future rather than the...

moved Amendment No. 5: 5: Schedule 4, page 71, line 41, after first ““is,”” insert ““has been,”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, this may be thought to be a curious piece of drafting, but it provides a hook on which I can develop an argument. Since Report, I have...

moved Amendment No. 5: 5: Schedule 4, page 71, line 41, after first ““is,”” insert ““has been,”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, this may be thought to be a curious piece of drafting, but it provides a hook on which I can develop an argument. Since Report, I have...

My Lords, I am only relating the facts as presented to me in the letter. I do not know the answer to the noble Baroness’s question. But the point is, surely, that even if the mother—or, indeed, the father—was on benefit, the amicable arrangement could or should have continued. As...

My Lords, I am only relating the facts as presented to me in the letter. I do not know the answer to the noble Baroness’s question. But the point is, surely, that even if the mother—or, indeed, the father—was on benefit, the amicable arrangement could or should have continued. As...

My Lords, far be it from me to get involved with the expertise of the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood, based on his extensive background in legal practice in Scotland on the subject of child maintenance. I therefore wish to degroup my Amendment No. 19 from the Scottish provisions, because it...

My Lords, far be it from me to get involved with the expertise of the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood, based on his extensive background in legal practice in Scotland on the subject of child maintenance. I therefore wish to degroup my Amendment No. 19 from the Scottish provisions, because it...

My Lords, the review does not cause the Crown body to cease. What causes it, surely, is the Secretary of State’s intention.

My Lords, the review does not cause the Crown body to cease. What causes it, surely, is the Secretary of State’s intention.

My Lords, we on this side of the House have no objection to these two sensible amendments. However, I would like to pick the Minister up on one tiny point. I understood him to say that when CMEC ceases to exist, then the order will be passed. I am sure...

My Lords, we on this side of the House have no objection to these two sensible amendments. However, I would like to pick the Minister up on one tiny point. I understood him to say that when CMEC ceases to exist, then the order will be passed. I am sure...

moved Amendment No. 6: 6: Schedule 5, page 73, line 8, leave out ““The Secretary of State may”” and insert ““Within one year of the commencement of this Act, the Secretary of State shall”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, we now come to the lamentable subject of transfers: moving...

moved Amendment No. 6: 6: Schedule 5, page 73, line 8, leave out ““The Secretary of State may”” and insert ““Within one year of the commencement of this Act, the Secretary of State shall”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, we now come to the lamentable subject of transfers: moving...

Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill. Queens consent signified. Lords third reading debate. Bill passed and returned to the Commons with amendments.

Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill. Queens consent signified. Lords third reading debate. Bill passed and returned to the Commons with amendments.

What changes in the law HMG propose to introduce to facilitate the consideration by magistrates courts of applications for liability orders in community charge proceedings.

What changes in the law HMG propose to introduce to facilitate the consideration by magistrates courts of applications for liability orders in community charge proceedings.

What progress is being made with strategy to computerise Dept of Social Security's benefit payment systems.

What progress is being made with strategy to computerise Dept of Social Security's benefit payment systems.