§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if those attending pilot group divorce information meetings under the Family Law Act 1996 received the full range of divorce information referred to in Section 8(9) of the Act at such meetings.[16079]
252W
§ Mr. HoonWith the exception of marriage counselling and support services, attendees at group information presentations receive the full range of information. Information on marriage support is additionally given in individual meetings.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the total cost of the research into the pilot projects for the provision of divorce information under the Family Law Act 1996.[16072]
§ Mr. HoonNegotiations are continuing in relation to further pilots and disclosure of costings would be likely to affect our negotiating position with potential pilot providers. Therefore, this information must remain confidential at present.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when it is proposed to produce Welsh language leaflets to be distributed to attendees at divorce information meetings under the Family Law Act 1996.[16081]
§ Mr. HoonAll leaflets specially commissioned for the information meetings pilots are available in Welsh for those attending meetings organised by the pilot project in South Wales and have been from its commencement in June 1997.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the budget for producing and distributing the leaflets given to attendees at the pilot divorce information meetings under the Family Law Act 1996; and if he will make a statement. [16080]
§ Mr. HoonNegotiations are continuing in relation to further pilots and disclosure of costings would be likely to affect our negotiating position with potential pilot providers. Therefore, this information must remain confidential at present.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the overall budget is for piloting arrangements for the provision of divorce information under section 8 of the Family Law Act 1996; and if he will make a statement.[16085]
§ Mr. HoonNegotiations are continuing in relation to further pilots and disclosure of costings would be likely to affect our negotiating position with potential pilot providers. Therefore, this information must remain confidential at present.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Parliamentary Sectary, Lord Chancellor's Department if alternatives to meetings for the provision of divorce information under the Family Law Act 1996 have been piloted; and in what form. [16071]
§ Mr. HoonBoth models being currently tested in the pilots involve personal attendance at meetings.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the relationship is between the pilot group divorce information meetings for married and unmarried individuals and the statutory framework under the Family Law Act 1996 of one to one meetings for married individuals; and if he will make a statement.[16083]
§ Mr. HoonInformation presentations to a number of attendees constitute one of the models of information meetings currently being piloted. For married persons, 253W these presentations are preceded by an individual information meeting. The individual meetings are within the statutory framework of the Family Law Act. Non-married persons do not first attend an individual meeting.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the cost was of producing the video being shown at the pilot group divorce information meetings under the Family Law Act 1996; and if he will make a statement.[16082]
§ Mr. HoonNegotiations are continuing in relation to further pilots and disclosure of costings would be likely to affect our negotiating position with potential pilot providers. Therefore, this information must remain confidential at present.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what arrangements exist for consultation on the contents of phases II and III of the divorce information pilot projects under the Family Law Act 1996; when and with whom this consultation will take place; and if he will make a statement.[16078]
§ Mr. HoonAll aspects of the pilot projects are being objectively tested through research. The views of the public who attend meetings, those involved in organisation and delivery of the pilots and all professionals and organisations within the pilot areas are being sought. Consultation on the content of the leaflets took place with relevant organisations. As required by section 8 (10) of the Family Law Act, before making any regulations under subsection (6) of section 8, the Lord Chancellor must consult such persons concerned with the provision of relevant information as he considers appropriate. The Lord Chancellor will do so.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the total cost of the tendering process for research into the pilot projects for the provision of divorce information under the Family Law Act 1996; and if he will make a statement. [16073]
§ Mr. HoonThere was no competition for the evaluation element of the pilots as opposed to the pilot provision itself which was subject to competition. In the course of this competition the Department received a manifestly suitable set of proposals for the evaluation and an application for a grant in aid. No separate competition for the evaluation element was therefore necessary.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the budget is for providing pilot group divorce information meetings for married and unmarried individuals under the Family Law Act 1996.[16084]
§ Mr. HoonNegotiations are continuing in relation to further pilots and disclosure of costings would be likely to affect our negotiating position with potential pilot providers. Therefore, this information must remain confidential at present.