[{"topic":"Family law","id":"41883","proposer":"24896","edm":"900","session":"2010-12","title":"Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Network","text":"That this House congratulates Grandparents Plus, the Grandparents' Association and members of the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Network on their successful lobby of Parliament on 28 October 2009 to raise awareness of family and friends care; recalls that there are over 200,000 grandparents and other family carers who are raising children who cannot live with their parents because of parental alcohol or substance misuse, abuse or neglect, domestic violence, bereavement, imprisonment, illness or disability or a combination of factors; notes that the cost of placing these children into the care system would be 12 billion each year; expresses concern that over half family and friends carers either give up work or reduce their paid hours and three out of four experience financial hardship; notes with alarm that any reduction in local authority support for family and friends carers could result in more children going into care, which would be neither good for children nor cost-effective; and calls on the Government to ensure that family and friends carers are not disadvantaged by welfare reform and cuts to local authority children's services.","date":"2010-10-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"40072","proposer":"10383","edm":"500","session":"2009-10","title":"Children And Family Court Advisory Support Service","text":"That this House believes that the fundamental principles of the Children Act should inform the approach and practice of Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (CAFCASS) and that the welfare of the child should be the paramount consideration; further believes that there should be active parliamentary oversight of the agency's important work; is alarmed at reports from unions representing staff in CAFCASS of growing backlogs, soaring workloads, low morale and constant restructuring; recognises that CAFCASS has had an increase in real terms in its budget of seven per cent. during the past two years, and is due a similar increase next year; but is concerned that unless the severe problems the organisation continues to face are resolved that practitioners will be unable to fulfil their statutory duties in providing a vital service to children and families.","date":"2009-12-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"39934","proposer":"10394","edm":"373","session":"2009-10","title":"Relocation Cases","text":"That this House believes that a child's relationship with its parents requires greater legislative protection with regard to the Family Court's current application of precedent in international and national relocation cases; further believes that the Family Courts of England and Wales' position on the importance of the father\/child relationship does not reflect the current authoritative research on the importance of father involvement in educational and psychological development in relocation cases; further believes that the courts in practice place too great an emphasis on the unsubstantiated emotional risk to the child from the mother's possible distress and disappointment if not allowed to relocate; considers that this emphasis over-rides all other considerations including the needs and rights of the child; and calls on the Government to respond positively to the research report by the charity Reunite, entitled Relocation, funded by the Ministry of Justice and published in July 2009.","date":"2009-12-07","status":"o"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"39885","proposer":"11420","edm":"325","session":"2009-10","title":"Family Courts","text":"That this House notes that the Government has expressed a desire to increase accountability in the family courts; regrets that the Children, Schools and Families Bill as currently drafted would have the effect of increasing secrecy in the family courts; and calls on the Government urgently to draft amendments to deliver its commitment to accountability.","date":"2009-12-02","status":"o"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"39287","proposer":"10394","edm":"2059","session":"2008-09","title":"Relocation Cases","text":"That this House believes that a child's relationship with its parents requires greater legislative protection with regard to the Family Court's current application of precedent in international and national relocation cases; further believes that the Family Courts of England and Wales' position on the importance of the father \/ child relationship does not reflect the current authoritative research on the importance of father involvement in educational and psychological development in relocation cases; further believes that the courts in practice place too great an emphasis on the unsubstantiated emotional risk to the child from the mother's possible distress and disappointment if not allowed to relocate; considers that this emphasis over-rides all other considerations including the needs and rights of the child; and calls upon the Government to respond positively to the research report by the charity Reunite entitled Relocation, funded by the Ministry of Justice and published in July 2009.","date":"2009-10-15","status":"o"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"39180","proposer":"11812","edm":"1950","session":"2008-09","title":"Family Proceedings (S.i., 2009, No. 1499)","text":"That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Family Proceedings Fees (Amendment) Order 2009 (S.I., 2009, No. 1499), dated 10 June 2009, a copy of which was laid before this House on 18 June, be annulled.","date":"2009-07-20","status":"o"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"37606","proposer":"11420","edm":"572","session":"2008-09","title":"Second Opinions In Family Division","text":"That this House believes that parties in family division proceedings should be allowed to obtain a second opinion in respect of expert reports.","date":"2009-01-26","status":"o"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"37003","proposer":"11420","edm":"11","session":"2008-09","title":"Solicitors And The Family Division Procedures","text":"That this House notes the comments of a senior social worker that meetings have been held during which solicitors acting for parents have discussed how to undermine the cases of their clients; further notes that there are many odd cases in which solicitors fail to oppose care proceedings or accept that the section 31 threshold has been met notwithstanding the opposition of their clients; recognises that reporting and obtaining the investigation of such behaviour outwith parliamentary proceedings remains a contempt of court for hon. Members; and asks the Solicitors Regulatory Authority to review the implementation of the solicitors' code of conduct and how this relates to conflicts of interest in the Family Court.","date":"2008-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"37008","proposer":"11420","edm":"16","session":"2008-09","title":"GRANDPARENTS' RIGHTS","text":"That this House believes that a child's right to family life requires greater legislative protection; further believes that there should be an expectation that ancestors and close biological relatives become parties to Family Court cases on request; further believes there should be financial support for kinship carers; further believes that biological relatives including fathers without parental responsibility, grandparents, aunts and uncles should be automatically notified of care and adoption proceedings; and calls upon the Government to respond positively to the proposals from charities announced on 17 March 2008 in the document Grandparents' Rights - A Response to the Government.","date":"2008-12-03","status":"o"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"36208","proposer":"13735","edm":"1887","session":"2007-08","title":"Regulation Of Children And Family Court Advisory And Support Service, Financial Services Authority And Nursing And Midwifery Council","text":"That this House believes that the complaints system in place to provide for individual redress for citizens unhappy with the decisions of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, the Financial Services Authority and the Nursing and Midwifery Council respectively is insufficiently independent and empowered to allow complaints to be satisfactorily adjudicated; calls on the Government to review the effectiveness of the complaints and appeal procedures in each case; and further calls on the Government to bring forward proposals for amendments to the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 (S.I., No. 253) respectively to improve complaints procedures and to increase public confidence that fair redress can be achieved.","date":"2008-06-25","status":"c"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"36157","proposer":"10288","edm":"1848","session":"2007-08","title":"Proposals To Help Families At Risk","text":"That this House welcomes the publication of Think Family - Improving the Life Chances of Families at Risk, which sets out plans to improve the life chances of families at risk and helps to break the cycle of disadvantage; believes that, if implemented, its recommendations would greatly enhance the life experience of families referred to the family courts; is concerned however at the lack of resource and funding commitments; and urges the Government to publish a timetable for implementation as soon as possible.","date":"2008-06-19","status":"c"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"36127","proposer":"10288","edm":"1823","session":"2007-08","title":"CAFCASS' BUDGET","text":"That this House welcomes the increase in CAFCASS' budget in the next financial year; is concerned that the additional money should not be used on increases in bureaucracy, consultants or tiers of management; and therefore urges that the money be used to fund frontline services in order to ensure a high quality of services for children and families.","date":"2008-06-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"35939","proposer":"11420","edm":"1657","session":"2007-08","title":"Accountability In Child Protection","text":"That this House notes that there is widespread concern about the lack of accountability in child protection and public family law; further notes that the single expert system operating in the family division gives rise to concerns that parents and their solicitors are prevented from consulting experts about their cases leading potentially to miscarriages of justice; and believes that the Government should use the opportunity of the Children and Young Persons Bill to introduce amendments to ameliorate these difficulties.","date":"2008-06-02","status":"c"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"35425","proposer":"11420","edm":"1199","session":"2007-08","title":"GRANDPARENTS' RIGHTS","text":"That this House believes that a child's right to family life requires greater legislative protection; further believes that there should be an expectation that ancestors and close biological relatives become parties to Family Court cases on request; further believes there should be financial support for kinship carers; further believes that biological relatives including fathers without parental responsibility, grandparents, aunts and uncles should be automatically notified of care and adoption proceedings; and calls upon the Government to respond positively to the proposals from the charities announced on 17th March in the document Grandparents' Rights - A Response to the Government.","date":"2008-03-17","status":"c"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"34993","proposer":"11420","edm":"827","session":"2007-08","title":"Adoption And Unintentional Sibling Marriage","text":"That this House welcomes the establishment of a drugs courts in London, which will hear cases involving expecting and new mothers; is pleased to note that the establishment of the court recognises that the removal of new born babies from mothers is not an ideal course of action; considers that mothers with epilepsy or learning difficulties should also be eligible for childcare support rather than removal of children at birth for adoption; notes that there are now groups of 14 or 15 siblings, each of which has been separately adopted and who are at risk of unintentional sibling marriage; and calls on the Government to review what further action might be taken to minimise the risk of such occurrences.","date":"2008-01-30","status":"c"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"34669","proposer":"11420","edm":"529","session":"2007-08","title":"Charles Roy Taylor","text":"That this House notes that Charles Roy Taylor has been imprisoned for 20 months for the offence of being in contact with his step-grandson; wonders if this is a good use of scarce prison resources; and calls for the Secretary of State for Justice to consider whether he should be released for Christmas.","date":"2007-12-10","status":"c"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"34644","proposer":"11923","edm":"511","session":"2007-08","title":"Cumbria Domestic Violence Partnership","text":"That this House acknowledges the Cumbria Domestic Violence Partnership as a beacon of good practice in tackling domestic violence; notes that domestic violence makes up 14 per cent. of all reported violent crime in the county but that only 35 per cent. of incidents of domestic violence are actually reported; commends the work of the Cumbria Domestic Violence Partnership in prioritising the safety of victims and the needs of their children, holding perpetrators accountable for their actions and supporting them in changing their behaviour, and challenging views about the nature of domestic violence; and enthusiastically supports the work of the Partnership as it seeks to have an even greater impact.","date":"2007-12-06","status":"c"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"34619","proposer":"11971","edm":"486","session":"2007-08","title":"Television Licence Fee And Domestic Abuse Refuges","text":"That this House expresses concern that women who move into women's refuges to escape domestic abuse are responsible for purchasing a full-price television licence should they wish to use a television in their room; notes that hotels and guesthouses benefit from a TV licence concession; further notes that many women in such a distressed and displaced position are particularly reliant upon television, especially to entertain their children; believes that normal means of enforcement by TV licence officers are inappropriate at refuges where women have fled violent partners and where anonymity is vital for their safety; expresses concern that funds from organisations which run refuges are being diverted to pay for television licences; and therefore calls for women's refuges to be included in the same television licence fee scheme as the hospitality industry.","date":"2007-12-05","status":"c"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"34475","proposer":"10383","edm":"355","session":"2007-08","title":"Child Maintenance And Enforcement Commission","text":"That this House supports the Government's aim to eradicate child poverty and believes that sufficient resources and investment must be available to the new Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC), the new non-departmental public body (NDPB) which is to replace the Child Support Agency (CSA) if child poverty reduction targets for 2010 are to be met; notes that although many parents are capable of making their own child maintenance arrangements this is not always the case and many individuals cannot, or will not, make such arrangements without CSA intervention; welcomes the tributes paid to the hard work of CSA staff in improving the Agency's performance by successive Secretaries of State and hon. Members; further believes that staff in CMEC should continue to have civil service status, as they have in other NDPBs, such as the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service and the Health and Safety Executive, and deserve a clear commitment that pensions, compensation and access to civil service jobs will be protected; and further believes that CMEC should be retained as an executive agency of the Department for Work and Pensions with accountability for the new organisation through a Minister rather than the Commissioner.","date":"2007-11-21","status":"c"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"34402","proposer":"13735","edm":"291","session":"2007-08","title":"Cafcass And Private Family Law","text":"That this House is concerned that under the existing operating conditions of the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service there is little or no opportunity for defendants to question evidence presented at court, the exercise of the right of appeal is made extremely difficult and the process under private family law is not open and transparent; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to do all that it can to ensure justice is done and individuals are treated as innocent until proven guilty within this closed court system as they are in all other United Kingdom courts.","date":"2007-11-15","status":"c"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"34216","proposer":"11420","edm":"126","session":"2007-08","title":"Solicitors And The Family Court Processes","text":"That this House notes the comments of a senior social worker that meetings have been held during which solicitors acting for parents have discussed how to undermine the cases of their clients; further notes that there are many odd cases in which solicitors fail to oppose care proceedings or accept that the section 31 threshold has been met notwithstanding the opposition of their clients; recognises that reporting and obtaining the investigation of such behaviour outwith parliamentary proceedings remains a contempt of court for hon. Members; and asks the Solicitors Regulatory Authority to review the implementation of the new solicitors' code of conduct and how this relates to conflicts of interest in the Family Court.","date":"2007-11-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"34217","proposer":"11420","edm":"127","session":"2007-08","title":"Family Courts","text":"That this House regrets the Government's proposals to retain secrecy within the family courts; believes that this secrecy permeates bad practice throughout the whole system of children services; feels that it is possible to protect the identity of the child while allowing parents to talk and seek advice publicly about their treatment in the family courts, and that professional witnesses should be uniquely identified to monitor consistency; further believes that every case should have an anonymised judgement handed to the parents that they can discuss publicly; and calls on the Government to recognise that there are very serious problems in the system that have been postponed rather than resolved by the limited proposals contained within the consultation document.","date":"2007-11-07","status":"c"},{"topic":"Family law","id":"34219","proposer":"11420","edm":"129","session":"2007-08","title":"Public Family Law And Solicitors","text":"That this House notes that it is common practice for a firm of solicitors to perform outsourced work for a local authority and also to represent parents when parties in cases against the same local authority; notes and is surprised that this conflict of interest is acceptable under the professional conduct rules; understands that some parents would be surprised to find that this is the case; and calls for the Law Society to require that parents be asked to confirm in writing that they recognise that the firm they are instructing is conflicted in this way as part of the client engagement process.","date":"2007-11-07","status":"c"}]