Select Committee on Constitutional Affairs Written Evidence


Further evidence submitted by Rt Hon Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss DBE, President, High Court, Family Division

I refer to evidence submitted by the President of the Equal Parenting Council ("EPC"), Mr Tony Coe, dated 18 November 2004, a copy of which has been passed to me. I wish to raise a number of points to clarify what I consider to be some inaccuracies with that evidence.

  Paragraph 28 of Mr Coe's evidence seems to indicate that when I gave evidence to the Committee on 9 November 2004 I referred specifically to meeting the EPC. I did indicate that I had in the past engaged with a number of parenting organisations and that "we [the judiciary] had no problem in meeting fathers or mothers" but as you will be aware there was no specific mention of the EPC by any of the judges during their oral evidence. You ought to be aware that it would be difficult for a judge to meet with a member of the public who has been involved in proceedings before that judge, especially given the possibility that the individual may appear before that judge in future.

  In relation to paragraph 29 I am not clear who the health professional referred to is. In any event, I do not accept what is said in that paragraph.

  I am sure you will give whatever weight you consider appropriate to all the evidence you receive. I did, however, wish to raise these issues with you at the earliest opportunity.

Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss

President of the Family Division

2 December 2004





 
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