§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce safeguards to protect parents with care and their children from violent or abusive absent parents who wish to claim parental rights 215W and responsibilities. [24603]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonAs I indicated on 1 May 1995 on the Floor of the House,Official Report, column 84, during the Report stage of the Children (Scotland) Bill, the Government will consider whether through rules of court a parent's address might be kept confidential during the lead-up to a court hearing an application for parental rights and responsibilities by the other parent. That apart, we consider the law contains adequate safeguards for a parent and children against the other parent who is violent or abusive.
§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to reform section 12(7) of the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937 to ensure that striking a child so as to cause or risk causing, injury will not be lawful whether or not the action was undertaken in terms of a parental right to chastise. [24605]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonMy right hon. Friend has no plans to reform section 12(7) of the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937 in the way suggested. As was made clear in the Report Stage debate on the Children (Scotland) Bill on 1 May,Official Report columns 49–75, the law as it stands—both statutory and common law—already offers sufficient protection to children from assault.
§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure that registration of an agreement between a mother and a father on parental rights and responsibilities will have safeguards against duress or coercion. [24604]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe arrangements set out in clauses 4 and 11 of the Children (Scotland) Bill
216W
(£ thousands) Health Boards Administration and clerical Actual total salaries Percentage Administration and clerical Current prices total salaries Percentage 1988–89 Argyll and Clyde 9,430 98,003 9.62 12,411 128,989 9.62 Ayr and Arran 6,666 73,464 9.07 8,775 96,691 9.07 Borders 1,911 23,088 8.28 2,515 30,388 8.28 Dumfries and Galloway 2,897 37,610 7.70 3,813 49,502 7.70 Fife 5,746 69,553 8.26 7,564 91,544 8.26 Forth Valley 5,133 66,813 7.68 6,755 87,937 7.68 Grampian 11,263 125,244 8.99 14,824 164,843 8.99 Greater Glasgow 27,357 343,939 7.95 36,006 452,682 7.95 Highland 4,345 52,637 8.25 5,719 69,280 8.25 Lanarkshire 8,205 111,788 7.34 10,799 147,131 7.34 Lothian 18,674 217,879 8.57 24,578 286,765 8.57 Orkney 266 3,905 6.82 350 5,140 6.82 Shetland 362 4,791 7.56 477 6,306 7.56 Tayside 11,032 129,398 8.53 14,519 170,309 8.53 Western Isles 557 6,994 7.96 733 9,205 7.96 Scotland total 113,844 1,365,106 8.34 149,838 1,796,712 8.34 1989–90 Argyll and Clyde 10,588 104,651 10.12 13,027 128,746 10.12 Ayr and Arran 7,655 79,776 9.60 9,418 98,144 9.60 Borders 2,217 25,289 8.77 2,727 31,111 8.77 Dumfries and Galloway 3,275 39,904 8.21 4,029 49,091 8.21 Fife 6,674 74,324 8.98 8,211 91,437 8.98 Forth Valley 5,905 71,428 8.27 7,264 87,874 8.27 Grampian 12,837 134,462 9.55 15,793 165,420 9.55 Greater Glasgow 31,142 359,709 8.66 38,312 442,529 8.66 Highland 5,005 56,668 8.83 6,157 69,715 8.83 Lanarkshire 9,325 119,097 7.83 11,472 146,518 7.83 Lothian 21,668 228,805 9.47 26,657 281,484 9.47 provide adequate protection for the mother and child. This was made clear on 23 February when, in Committee, amendments Nos. 238 and 239 were considered. Consequently, my right hon. Friend has no plans to change the arrangements which the Bill will bring into play.