§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the draft Commission legislation on the jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and parental responsibility for children; and what is the Government's policy on the draft legislation. [84094]
§ Mr. VazThe proposal for a Council Regulation on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility for joint children was published by the European Commission on 4 May 1999.
The Government are currently assessing this proposal and its implications; it is based on a convention dealing with the same subject matter which was agreed by the member states of the European Union in 1998. The Government have not yet decided what steps to take in relation to this proposal.