§ Lords amendment: No. 2, in page 4, line 7, after "without" insert "the".
§ Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Ernest Armstrong)With this it will be convenient to discuss Lords amendments Nos. 3 to 7.
§ Mr. WoodThese are drafting amendments. They ensure that the definition of "appropriate consent" is the same in clause 5 as in clause 1. At the moment, the definition in clause 5 is slightly different, and its effect might not be exactly the same in some circumstances. The definition of those who may give consent to a child's removal from the country should be the same in both clauses, so that the position is the same in Scotland as in England and Wales and there is no doubt or difficulty. That is what the amendments achieve.
I thank my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, who has given me much help in this matter, and his officials. The support and advice that I have received have been of inestimable value. I could not have proceeded with the Bill without such support.
I also thank my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Mr. Rhodes James) for his pioneering work and for his encouragement throughout the consideration of the Bill. I believe that, as has been said, the Bill will be a building block in the work of creating sound homes for our children to live in.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Lords amendments Nos. 3 to 7 agreed to.