HL Deb 08 November 1989 vol 512 c721

2 Clause 4, page 3, line 36, leave out subsections (2) and (3) and insert— `(2) No parental responsibility agreement shall have effect for the purposes of this Act unless—

  1. (a) it is made in the form prescribed by the regulations made by the Lord Chancellor; and
  2. (b) where regulations are made by the Lord Chancellor prescribing the manner in which such agreements must be recorded, it is recorded in the prescribed manner.'.

3 Page 3, line 42, after 'may', insert 'only'.

The Lord Chancellor

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 2 and 3. Amendment No. 2 replaces, and partially alters, the original Clause 4(2). While it repeats that, to be effective, parental responsibility agreements must be in the form which will be prescribed by the Lord Chancellor, it provides that they will be effective without the need for their being recorded in any particular way unless or until the Lord Chancellor makes regulations prescribing a manner of recording.

Amendment No. 3 makes clear that parental responsibility orders and agreements may only be brought to an end by order of the court made on the application of the persons specified in Clause 4(4)(a) and (b). The only effect of Amendment No. 3 will be to prevent parental responsibility agreements being discharged by mutual agreement. I beg to move.

Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in the said amendments.—(The Lord Chancellor.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.