§ '(1) Within each county court and magistrates court there shall be created a family division which, together with the Family Division of the High Court, shall operate as a Family Court.
§ (2) The Lord Chancellor shall by rules of court specify the procedures to be followed in order to—
- (a) identify the welfare of the child;
- (b) avoid unnecessary formality;
- (c) reduce delay and inconvenience to the public in resolution of family disputes;
- (d) reduce the harm to children and families resulting from the court process and
- (e) introduce conciliatory methods of dispute resolution.
§ (3) There shall be a welfare and conciliation service attached to the Family Court and it shall include—
- (a) guardians ad litem and reporting officers;
- (b) a family conciliation service in respect of children subject to proceedings under part two.
- (c) social workers appointed to report to the court in proceedings under part two.
§ (4) This section shall come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may appoint, being not later than eighteen months after the Children Act receives Royal Assent.'.—[Mr. Tom Clarke.]
§ Brought up, and read the First time.
§ Question put, That the clause be read a Second time:—
§ The House divided: Ayes 180, Noes 222.
594Division No. 332] | [8.34 pm |
AYES | |
Abbott, Ms Diane | Fisher, Mark |
Adams, Allen (Paisley N) | Flannery, Martin |
Allen, Graham | Flynn, Paul |
Alton, David | Foot, Rt Hon Michael |
Anderson, Donald | Foster, Derek |
Armstrong, Hilary | Foulkes, George |
Ashley, Rt Hon Jack | Fyfe, Maria |
Ashton, Joe | Galloway, George |
Banks, Tony (Newham NW) | Garrett, John (Norwich South) |
Barnes, Harry (Derbyshire NE) | Garrett, Ted (Wallsend) |
Barnes, Mrs Rosie (Greenwich) | George, Bruce |
Barron, Kevin | Gilbert, Rt Hon Dr John |
Battle, John | Godman, Dr Norman A. |
Beckett, Margaret | Golding, Mrs Llin |
Bell, Stuart | Gordon, Mildred |
Benn, Rt Hon Tony | Gould, Bryan |
Bennett, A. F. (D'nt'n & R'dish) | Grant, Bernie (Tottenham) |
Bermingham, Gerald | Griffiths, Nigel (Edinburgh S) |
Bidwell, Sydney | Griffiths, Win (Bridgend) |
Blair, Tony | Hardy, Peter |
Blunkett, David | Harman, Ms Harriet |
Boyes, Roland | Hattersley, Rt Hon Roy |
Bradley, Keith | Healey, Rt Hon Denis |
Bray, Dr Jeremy | Heffer, Eric S. |
Brown, Gordon (D'mline E) | Hinchliffe, David |
Brown, Nicholas (Newcastle E) | Hogg, N. (C'nauld & Kilsyth) |
Buckley, George J. | Home Robertson, John |
Campbell, Ron (Blyth Valley) | Howarth, George (Knowsley N) |
Campbell-Savours, D. N. | Howells, Geraint |
Carlile, Alex (Mont'g) | Howells, Dr. Kim (Pontypridd) |
Clark, Dr David (S Shields) | Hughes, John (Coventry NE) |
Clarke, Tom (Monklands W) | Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen N) |
Clay, Bob | Hughes, Sean (Knowsley S) |
Clelland, David | Illsley, Eric |
Clwyd, Mrs Ann | Ingram, Adam |
Cohen, Harry | Jones, Barry (Alyn & Deeside) |
Cook, Frank (Stockton N) | Jones, Ieuan (Ynys Môn) |
Cook, Robin (Livingston) | Kirkwood, Archy |
Corbett, Robin | Lambie, David |
Corbyn, Jeremy | Lamond, James |
Crowther, Stan | Leadbitter, Ted |
Cryer, Bob | Leighton, Ron |
Cummings, John | Lestor, Joan (Eccles) |
Cunliffe, Lawrence | Lewis, Terry |
Darling, Alistair | Litherland, Robert |
Davies, Rt Hon Denzil (Llanelli) | Lloyd, Tony (Stratford) |
Davies, Ron (Caerphilly) | Lofthozuse, Geoffrey |
Davis, Terry (B'ham Hodge H'I) | Loyden, Eddie |
Dewar, Donald | McAllion, John |
Dixon, Don | McAvoy, Thomas |
Dobson, Frank | McCartney, Ian |
Doran, Frank | Macdonald, Calum A. |
Dunwoody, Hon Mrs Gwyneth | McKelvey, William |
Eadie, Alexander | McLeish, Henry |
Eastham, Ken | McNamara, Kevin |
Evans, John (St Helens N) | Madden, Max |
Ewing, Harry (Falkirk E) | Mahon, Mrs Alice |
Fearn, Ronald | Marek, Dr John |
Field, Frank (Birkenhead) | Martlew, Eric |
Fields, Terry (L'pool B G'n) | Maxton, John |
Meacher, Michael | Sheerman, Barry |
Meale, Alan | Sheldon, Rt Hon Robert |
Michael, Alun | Shore, Rt Hon Peter |
Michie, Bill (Sheffield Heeley) | Skinner, Dennis |
Moonie, Dr Lewis | Smith, Andrew (Oxford E) |
Morgan, Rhodri | Smith, C. (Isl'ton & F'bury) |
Morley, Elliot | Smith, J. P. (Vale of Glam) |
Morris, Rt Hon A. (W'shawe) | Soley, Clive |
Mowlam, Marjorie | Spearing, Nigel |
Mullin, Chris | Steel, Rt Hon David |
Nellist, Dave | Steinberg, Gerry |
Oakes, Rt Hon Gordon | Strang, Gavin |
Orme, Rt Hon Stanley | Taylor, Mrs Ann (Dewsbury) |
Parry, Robert | Taylor, Rt Hon J. D. (S'ford) |
Patchett, Terry | Thompson, Jack (Wansbeck) |
Pendry, Tom | Turner, Dennis |
Pike, Peter L. | Vaz, Keith |
Powell, Ray (Ogmore) | Wall, Pat |
Prescott, John | Wallace, James |
Primarolo, Dawn | Wareing, Robert N. |
Quin, Ms Joyce | Watson, Mike (Glasgow, C) |
Radice, Giles | Welsh, Michael (Doncaster N) |
Randall, Stuart | Williams, Rt Hon Alan |
Reid, Dr John | Wilson, Brian |
Robertson, George | Winnick, David |
Rogers, Allan | Wise, Mrs Audrey |
Rooker, Jeff | Worthington, Tony |
Ross, Ernie (Dundee W) | Young, David (Bolton SE) |
Rowlands, Ted | |
Ruddock, Joan | Tellers for the Ayes: |
Salmond, Alex | Mr. Frank Haynes and |
Sedgemore, Brian | Mr.Martyn Jones. |
NOES | |
Aitken, Jonathan | Clark, Dr Michael (Rochford) |
Alexander, Richard | Clark, Sir W. (Croydon S) |
Alison, Rt Hon Michael | Colvin, Michael |
Amess, David | Conway, Derek |
Amos, Alan | Coombs, Simon (Swindon) |
Arbuthnot, James | Cope, Rt Hon John |
Ashby, David | Cormack, Patrick |
Atkins, Robert | Couchman, James |
Baker, Nicholas (Dorset N) | Cran, James |
Baldry, Tony | Critchley, Julian |
Banks, Robert (Harrogate) | Currie, Mrs Edwina |
Batiste, Spencer | Davies, Q. (Stamf'd & Spald'g) |
Beaumont-Dark, Anthony | Davis, David (Boothferry) |
Bellingham, Henry | Day, Stephen |
Bendall, Vivian | Devlin, Tim |
Bennett, Nicholas (Pembroke) | Dorrell, Stephen |
Benyon, W. | Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James |
Bevan, David Gilroy | Dover, Den |
Biffen, Rt Hon John | Dunn, Bob |
Blackburn, Dr John G. | Durant, Tony |
Blaker, Rt Hon Sir Peter | Eggar, Tim |
Body, Sir Richard | Evans, David (Welwyn Hatf'd) |
Bonsor, Sir Nicholas | Evennett, David |
Boscawen, Hon Robert | Favell, Tony |
Boswell, Tim | Fenner, Dame Peggy |
Bowden, A (Brighton K'pto'n) | Field, Barry (Isle of Wight) |
Bowden, Gerald (Dulwich) | Fishburn, John Dudley |
Bowis, John | Fookes, Dame Janet |
Boyson, Rt Hon Dr Sir Rhodes | Forman, Nigel |
Braine, Rt Hon Sir Bernard | Forth, Eric |
Brazier, Julian | Freeman, Roger |
Brown, Michael (Brigg & Cl't's) | French, Douglas |
Bruce, Ian (Dorset South) | Gale, Roger |
Buck, Sir Antony | Gardiner, George |
Budgen, Nicholas | Garel-Jones, Tristan |
Burns, Simon | Glyn, Dr Alan |
Burt, Alistair | Goodlad, Alastair |
Butcher, John | Gorman, Mrs Teresa |
Butler, Chris | Gow, Ian |
Butterfill, John | Grant, Sir Anthony (CambsSW) |
Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln) | Greenway, Harry (Ealing N) |
Carrington, Matthew | Greenway, John (Ryedale) |
Carttiss, Michael | Gregory, Conal |
Chalker, Rt Hon Mrs Lynda | Griffiths, Peter (Portsmouth N) |
Channon, Rt Hon Paul | Grist, Ian |
Chapman, Sydney | Ground, Patrick |
Grylls, Michael | Moss, Malcolm |
Hague, William | Moynihan, Hon Colin |
Hamilton, Neil (Tatton) | Mudd, David |
Hampson, Dr Keith | Neale, Gerrard |
Hanley, Jeremy | Nelson, Anthony |
Hannam, John | Neubert, Michael |
Hargreaves, Ken (Hyndburn) | Newton, Rt Hon Tony |
Harris, David | Nicholson, David (Taunton) |
Haselhurst, Alan | Nicholson, Emma (Devon West) |
Hayes, Jerry | Norris, Steve |
Hayhoe, Rt Hon Sir Barney | Onslow, Rt Hon Cranley |
Hayward, Robert | Oppenheim, Phillip |
Heathcoat-Amory, David | Page, Richard |
Heddle, John | Paice, James |
Higgins, Rt Hon Terence L. | Patnick, Irvine |
Hind, Kenneth | Patten, Rt Hon Chris (Bath) |
Hogg, Hon Douglas (Gr'th'm) | Peacock, Mrs Elizabeth |
Hordern, Sir Peter | Porter, Barry (Wirral S) |
Howard, Michael | Porter, David (Waveney) |
Howarth, Alan (Strat'd-on-A) | Portillo, Michael |
Howarth, G. (Cannock & B'wd) | Powell, William (Corby) |
Howell, Rt Hon David (G'dford) | Price, Sir David |
Howell, Ralph (North Norfolk) | Raison, Rt Hon Timothy |
Hughes, Robert G. (Harrow W) | Renton, Tim |
Hunt, David (Wirral W) | Riddick, Graham |
Hunter, Andrew | Ridley, Rt Hon Nicholas |
Irvine, Michael | Ridsdale, Sir Julian |
Jack, Michael | Roberts, Wyn (Conwy) |
Jackson, Robert | Rossi, Sir Hugh |
Janman, Tim | Rost, Peter |
Jessel, Toby | Rowe, Andrew |
Johnson Smith, Sir Geoffrey | Sainsbury, Hon Tim |
Kellett-Bowman, Dame Elaine | Shaw, Sir Giles (Pudsey) |
Key, Robert | Shaw, Sir Michael (Scarb') |
King, Rt Hon Tom (Bridgwater) | Shephard, Mrs G. (Norfolk SW) |
Kirkhope, Timothy | Shepherd, Richard (Aldridge) |
Knapman, Roger | Shersby, Michael |
Knight, Greg (Derby North) | Sims, Roger |
Knight, Dame Jill (Edgbaston) | Smith, Tim (Beaconsfield) |
Knowles, Michael | Soames, Hon Nicholas |
Knox, David | Speed, Keith |
Latham, Michael | Speller, Tony |
Lennox-Boyd, Hon Mark | Spicer, Sir Jim (Dorset W) |
Lilley, Peter | Spicer, Michael (S Worcs) |
Lloyd, Sir Ian (Havant) | Squire, Robin |
Lloyd, Peter (Fareham) | Stanbrook, Ivor |
Lord, Michael | Stern, Michael |
Lyell, Sir Nicholas | Stevens, Lewis |
MacKay, Andrew (E Berkshire) | Stewart, Andy (Sherwood) |
Maclean, David | Stewart, Rt Hon Ian (Herts N) |
McLoughlin, Patrick | Stokes, Sir John |
McNair-Wilson, Sir Michael | Stradling Thomas, Sir John |
McNair-Wilson, Sir Patrick | Summerson, Hugo |
Malins, Humfrey | Taylor, Ian (Esher) |
Mans, Keith | Taylor, John M (Solihull) |
Maples, John | Thurnham, Peter |
Marland, Paul | Townend, John (Bridlington) |
Marshall, Michael (Arundel) | Townsend, Cyril D. (B'heath) |
Martin, David (Portsmouth S) | Waddington, Rt Hon David |
Maude, Hon Francis | Waller, Gary |
Maxwell-Hyslop, Robin | Widdecombe, Ann |
Mayhew, Rt Hon Sir Patrick | Wiggin, Jerry |
Mellor, David | Yeo, Tim |
Meyer, Sir Anthony | |
Mills, Iain | Tellers for the Noes: |
Mitchell, Sir David | Mr. Michael Fallon and |
Morrison, Sir Charles | Mr. Tom Sackville. |
§ Question accordingly negatived.