Amendments proposed to the Children and Adoption Bill [lords] - continued	House of Commons
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Provision as to family assistance orders

   

Tim Loughton
Mrs Maria Miller
Mr Stewart Jackson
Jeremy Wright
Mr David Evennett

NC18

To move the following Clause:—

'In the circumstances where a family assistance order is made, the officer concerned will proceed on the presumption that the child's interests are best served through reasonable contact with both his parents unless good reason to the contrary is shown.'.

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Presumption of reasonable contact

   

Tim Loughton
Mrs Maria Miller
Mr Stewart Jackson
Jeremy Wright
Mr David Evennett

NC19

To move the following Clause:—

'After section 1(1) of the Children Act 1989 (c. 41) insert—

    "(1A)   In respect of subsection 1(1) above and subject to the welfare of the child, the court shall act on the presumption that the child's interest are best served through reasonable contact with both his parents in the absence of good reason to the contrary."'.

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Reasonable contact: welfare checklist

   

Tim Loughton
Mrs Maria Miller
Mr Stewart Jackson
Jeremy Wright
Mr David Evennett

NC20

To move the following Clause:—

'After section 1(3)(g) of the Children Act 1989 (c. 41) insert—

"(h)	the desirability of reasonable contact between the child and the non-resident parent in the absence of good reason to the contrary."'.

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Risk assessments: screening

   

Vera Baird
Mr David Kidney

NC21

To move the following Clause:—

    '(1)   After section 8 of the Children Act 1989 (c. 41) insert—

    "8A   Pre-court checks

    (1)   On receipt of any application under section 8 of the court shall direct that the relevant pre-court checks are undertaken to screen for indicators of risk to the child's safety and well-being.

    (2)   The court may ask an officer of the Service or a Welsh family proceedings officer to undertake any checks for the screening required by subsection (1).

    (3)   It shall be the duty of an officer of the Service or a Welsh family proceedings officer to comply with a request from the court under subsection (2).

    (4)   A court shall not make an order under section 8 until it has considered the results of the screening required by subsection (1) and is satisfied that the arrangements will be safe for the child.

    (5)   Pre-court checks to screen for indicators of risk required by subsection (1) and any subsequent risk assessments under section 16A shall be undertaken in accordance with the Code of Practice issued under section 8B.

    8B   Code of Practice

    (1)   The Secretary of State shall prepare, and from time to time revise, a Code of Practice regarding screening for indicators of risk and regarding risk assessment as required by section 16A.

    (2)   Before preparing the Code of Practice or making any alteration in it the Secretary of State shall consult such bodies as appear to him to be concerned.

    (3)   The Secretary of State shall lay copies of the Code and of any alteration in the Code before Parliament; and if either House of Parliament passes a resolution requiring the Code or any alteration to be withdrawn the Secretary of State shall withdraw the Code, and where he withdraws the Code, shall prepare a Code in substitution for the Code which was withdrawn.

    (4)   No resolution shall be passed above in respect of a Code or any alteration after the expiration of the period of 40 days beginning with the day on which a copy of the Code or alteration was laid before that House; but for the purpose of this subsection no account shall be taken of any time during which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued or during which both Houses are adjourned for more than four days.

    (5)   The Secretary of State shall publish the Code as for the time being in force."'.

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Duration

   

Mr David Kidney

NC22

To move the following Clause:—

'The Children Act 1989 (c. 41) shall be amended as follows—

(a)	In section 10(5)(b) leave out "three years" and insert "one year",

(b)	In section 10(10) leave out "three years" and insert "one yea r", and

(c)	in section 10(10) leave out "five years" and insert "three years".'.

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Contact orders: meeting with mediator

   

Annette Brooke
Mark Williams

NC24

To move the following Clause:—

'After section 8 of the Children Act 1989 (c. 41) insert—

    "8A   Contact orders: meeting with mediator

Applications for a contact order under section 8 must be stayed, unless by order of the court, until the applicant has attended a meeting with a mediator and the mediator has certified that mediation is not suitable to resolve the issue which is the subject of the application."'.

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ORDER OF THE COMMITTEE [14TH MARCH 2006]

That—

    (1)   during proceedings on the Children and Adoption Bill [Lords] the Standing Committee shall (in addition to its first meeting at 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday 14th March) meet—

(a)	at 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 14th March;

(b)	at 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. on Thursday 16th March;

    (2)   the proceedings shall be taken in the following order: Clauses 9 to 14; Clauses 1 to 4; Schedule 1; Clauses 5 to 8; Clause 15; Schedules 2 and 3; Clauses 16 and 17; new Clauses; new Schedules; remaining proceedings on the Bill;

    (3)   the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 4.00 p.m. on Thursday 16th March.

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Prepared 16 Mar 2006