Search Results

1-6 of 6 results for subject:Marriage

Show detailed: On Off

Results: 10 20 50 100

Sort by: Newest first Oldest first

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what the costs of the recently completed research project into the Legal Services Commission's publicly-funded family mediation pilot project were; how many copies of the full research report were printed and what plans he has to publish more copies of the research;...

Asked by

Andrew Dismore (Labour)

Answering body

Lord Chancellor's Department

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

18 January 2001

Reference

361 c392W; 144885

House

House of Commons

Lord Chancellors Dept

Statement on when he will publish the final evaluation report of research into pilot information meetings under Part II of the Family Law Act 1996; and what plans the Government has to implement Part II of the Act. - Inc figures, ref to 17 June 1999 333 c213-4W and fact...

Asked by

Iain Coleman (Labour)

Answering body

Lord Chancellor's Department

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

15 January 2001

For answer on

16 January 2001

Answered on

16 January 2001

Mr. Coleman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she will publish the final evaluation report of research into pilot information meetings under Part II of the Family Law Act 1996; and what plans the Government have to implement Part II of the Act. [146031] Jane Kennedy: The Final Evaluation Report has been published today, and copies have been placed in the Library. The Lord Chancellor and I are grateful for Professor Walker and her team at Newcastle University for the very detailed and informative report they have produced. On 17 June 1999, Official Report, column 213W, the Government announced that it would await the Final Evaluation Report before deciding the way forward on Part II. The research has concluded that none of the six models of information meeting tested over a two-year period is good enough for the implementation of Part II on a nation-wide basis. It has shown that, for most people, the meetings came too late to save marriages and tended to incline those who were uncertain about their marriages towards divorce. While people valued the provision of information, the meetings were too inflexible, providing general information about both marriage saving and the divorce process. People wanted information tailored to their individual circumstances and needs. In addition, in the great majority of cases, only the person petitioning for divorce attended the meeting, but marriage counselling, conciliatory divorce and mediation depend for success on the willing involvement of both parties. The Report has suggested testing a further model designed to address the majority of the shortcomings identified in the pilots. However, this new kind of meeting would not solve the underlying problems associated with compulsory information meetings, in particular the timing of the meetings in the divorce process and their inability to engage both parties. Furthermore, in the Government's view the problems with Part II are not limited to the provisions on information meetings. The new procedures would be complex and likely to lead to significant delay and uncertainty which would not be in the best interests of the couple or their children. There are concerns that the provisions would prove unworkable in practice. The Government therefore do not believe Part II would fulfil the principles of Part I of the Act, to which it remains committed. These principles include saving saveable marriages and, where marriages break down, bringing them to an end with the minimum distress to the parties and children affected. The Government are not satisfied that it would be right to proceed with the implementation of Part II and proposes to invite Parliament to repeal the relevant sections of the Family Law Act 1996 once a suitable legislative opportunity occurs. This decision does not affect section 22, in Part II, relating to the funding of marriage support services, which is in force and will remain so. In addition, while it is not possible to implement separately the provisions at sections 9(3) and (4) of Part II, the Government is sympathetic to the needs of Jewish women who are denied a religious divorce, and is considering the best way forward. The Government will draw on the Evaluation Report and build on the initiatives already under way in its efforts to support marriage and stable relationships and to reduce the damaging impact of family conflict and relationship breakdown on children. It has taken forward a wide range of measures over the past three years to help families, including establishing the new Children's Fund and the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, improving maternity and parental leave arrangements, and increasing funding for marriage and relationship support to a total of £5 million per annum by 2002-03.

Legislation

Family Law Act 1996

Date

16 January 2001

Reference

361 c219-20W; 146031

House

House of Commons

Lord Chancellors Dept

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when the Legal Services Commission will publish the results of Professor Gwynn Davis's research into publicly funded family mediation implemented under Part III of the Family Law Act 1996. - Inc ref to "Monitoring Publicly Funded Mediation", in Libraries. (Dep 00/1880 and...

Asked by

Ian Gibson (Labour)

Answering body

Lord Chancellor's Department

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

20 December 2000

Reference

144041; 360 c240-1W

House

House of Commons

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the Hague Convention on child abduction

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the Hague Convention on child abduction.

Lead member

John Stanley

Answering member

Jane Kennedy

Department

Lord Chancellor's Department

Type

Adjournment debates

Date

24 October 2000

Reference

355 c24-30WH

House

House of Commons

Lord Chancellors Dept

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when the Government intends to publish Sir Graham Hart's report on the funding of marriage support, and the Lord Chancellor's response. - Inc ref to fact that copies of report and Lord Chancellor's response, in Library Dep 99/1915.

Asked by

Maria Eagle (Labour)

Answering body

Lord Chancellor's Department

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

25 November 1999

Reference

339 c202W; 100434

House

House of Commons

Lord Chancellors Dept

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when he will announce his formal response to Sir Graham Hart's review of marriage support funding. - Sir Graham Harts report on marriage support funding will be published shortly, together with the Lord Chancellors response.

Asked by

Kerry Pollard (Labour)

Answering body

Lord Chancellor's Department

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

3 November 1999

Reference

337 c238W; 96629

House

House of Commons

Librarians' tools

Type

House

Session

Year

Department

Member

Primary member

Answering member

Legislative stage

Legislation

Subject

Publisher