Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department's press release of 21 May 2019, Spotlight on child protection in family courts: A panel of experts will review how the family courts protect children and parents in cases of domestic abuse and other serious offences, whether that panel of experts plan to include a review of the status of parental alienation as child abuse in that review.
Answered by Paul Maynard
The expert panel announced on 21 May has a specific remit, first, to gather evidence on how the family courts are responding to alleged or admitted domestic abuse, including the operation of Practice Direction 12J, and the operation of this Practice Direction with the risk of harm exception to the presumption of parental involvement. Second, the panel will consider the adequacy of protections in relation to a range of other serious offences. Third, the panel will consider the handling of repeat applications in the family courts, which may be used to re-victimise or control children and victim parents, including the operation of section 91(14) of the Children Act 1989.
The Government is committed to ensuring that the family justice system can robustly address instances of parental alienation. Where Cafcass practitioners prepare a report into the child’s welfare, they are aware of the potential for children to be influenced or alienated by parental views. The Child Impact Assessment Framework launched last year provides further support for Cafcass practitioners in relation to alienating behaviour by a parent.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has (a) funded, (b) awarded contracts to and (c) procured the services of the Integrity Initiative in each financial year since 2015-16.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The Ministry of Justice has provided no funding, contracts or procured services from the Integrity Initiative.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department is taking steps to introduce legislative proposals to enable cohabiting couples to share financial and property rights; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
The Government’s current priorities are to reform the law on the process for obtaining a divorce in order to reduce family conflict and to extend civil partnerships to opposite sex couples. The Government will be considering how to proceed in relation to proposals made by the Law Commission in the context of any further reforms to the family justice system.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, further to the Answer of 16 January 2018 to Questions 117291 and 117292, what the range of issues are that the Government would be required to consider carefully before deciding whether to amend the existing law on marriage to make provision for legally valid humanist ceremonies.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
The range of issues that the Government would be required to consider can be found in the Government response to the consultation on marriages by non-religious belief organisations. This response was published in 2014 and is available at gov.uk.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of extending legal recognition of marriages humanist ceremonies; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
Assessment of the potential merits of provision for non-religious belief marriages can be found in the consultation paper and response published by a previous Government in 2014 and available at justice.gov.uk.
Amending the existing law on marriage to make provision for legally valid humanist ceremonies would involve a range of issues for the Government to consider carefully. We have no plans to amend this legislation.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make it his policy to extend legal recognition to humanist marriages in order to enhance the diversity of choices for types of marriage ceremonies available to same-sex couples.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
Assessment of the potential merits of provision for non-religious belief marriages can be found in the consultation paper and response published by a previous Government in 2014 and available at justice.gov.uk.
Amending the existing law on marriage to make provision for legally valid humanist ceremonies would involve a range of issues for the Government to consider carefully. We have no plans to amend this legislation.