§ Sir John StanleyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether he will make it his policy that the passports of wards of court and other children at risk of child abduction be endorsed with details of relevant court orders. [30393]
Mr. John M. TaylorConsideration is currently being given by the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Home Office to the question of the endorsement of the passports of children at risk of child abduction. It is not possible at this stage to indicate the likely outcome of this process.
§ Sir John StanleyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what has been the work of his Department in the field of child abduction over the past year; and what work is anticipated in the year ahead. [30387]
Mr. TaylorThe child abduction unit within my Department carries out work relating to the Hague 327W convention on child abduction and the European custody convention. In 1994 the unit dealt with 323 new cases, an increase of 18 per cent. on those received in 1993. A further rise in work load is anticipated in the year ahead.