HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc591-4

'(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—

  1. (a) identify the welfare of the child;
  2. (b) avoid unnecessary formality;
  3. (c) reduce delay and inconvenience to the public in resolution of family disputes;
  4. (d) reduce the harm to children and families resulting from the court process and
  5. 592
  6. (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—

  1. (a) guardians ad litem and reporting officers;
  2. (b) a family conciliation service in respect of children subject to proceedings under part two.
  3. (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.

Division 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.

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