§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Attorney-General if Her Majesty's Government have decided upon the commencement date for the Family Law Reform Act 1987; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Lord Chancellor will bring the Family Law Reform Act 1987 (which reforms the law relating to the consequences of birth outside marriage) into force on 4 April 1988 except for part II, sections 24 and 25, which are directly dependent on part II, and section 23 which deals with scientific tests. Before section 23 can be brought into force, detailed arrangements for the purpose of facilitating the introduction of testing by DNA714W profiling will need to be devised. The Lord Chancellor is considering with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary how this might best be done.