HC Deb 01 May 1995 vol 259 cc113-4

Amendment made: No. 116, in page 4, line 3, after 'mother' insert ',whatever age they may be,'.—[Lord James Douglas-Hamilton.]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

I beg to move amendment No. 117, in page 4, line 35, after 'maturity' insert 'and to those of any other person who has parental responsibilities or parental rights in relation to the child (and wishes to express those views)'.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this, it will be convenient to discuss Government amendment No. 118.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

I commend the amendments to the House.

Mrs. Fyfe

There is a lack of clarity in the drafting of amendment No. 118 because there is some doubt about who is the "his" referred to in line 42 of the Bill. Perhaps the Minister would make a note of that and return to it later.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Amendment No. 117 was tabled in response to the concern of the hon. Member for Falkirk, East (Mr. Connarty) to encourage separated or divorced parents to maintain a co-operative relationship towards their children. It would be helpful to insert an amendment about reaching any major decision concerning the fulfilling of parental responsibility or right to have regard to the views of any other person with parental responsibilities.

Amendment No. 118 was felt necessary to provide a reference to such a person as well as the existing reference to a child. As the hon. Lady has requested I shall look at the drafting. However, a person acting as the child's legal representative is not challengeable solely on the ground that the person mentioned in amendment No. 117 was not consulted or that due regard was not given to his or her views before the transaction was entered into. This reflects the provision in relation to consulting the child.

Mr. Connarty

I thank the Minister for showing that he listened to some of what I said in Committee, although perhaps some of my hon. Friends did not.

Amendment agreed to.

Amendment made: No. 118, in page 4, line 41, after 'child' insert ',or a person with parental responsibilities or parental rights in relation to the child,'.—[Lord James Douglas-Hamilton.]

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