§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Attorney-General if he will state the composition of the family law administration working party; and when it last met.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe family law and administration working party is chaired by a senior official of the Lord Chancellor's Department and its membership consists of officials of the Department of Health, Home Office, Department of Social Security, the Treasury and the Lord Chancellor's Department. The family law and administration working party last met on 5 February 1991.
§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the progress being made by the family law administration working party.
§ The Attorney-GeneralTo date the working party has been primarily concerned with the very large number of arrangements necessary for the implementation of the Children Act 1989. The main parts of that Act are to take effect on 14 October 1991. Following implementation, the working party will proceed to review the other aspects of family law, as announced by my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor on the Second Reading of the Children Bill on 6 December 1988, including the role and organisation of the support services, the reform of divorce law following publication of the Law Commission report and the law relating to domestic violence.