§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what procedures are in place to give effect to court orders permitting divorced parents access to their children. [90995]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonIn 2001 there were 55,030 contact orders granted in England and Wales. Deliberate refusal to obey a contact order is a contempt of court and may be punishable by a fine or imprisonment. In cases that involve the care of children those remedies might not be in the interests of the children at the centre of the parents' dispute. In recognition of this my Department asked the Children Act Sub-Committee on Family Law (CASC) to consult on the issue. Their report, "Making Contact Work", was published on 8 February 2002 to which the Government responded on 6 August 2002. As part of that response, a stakeholder group has been established to look at the facilitation and enforcement of contact. The group comprises members from the judiciary, legal professionals, CAFCASS, other Government Departments and the voluntary sector. As well as considering how parents may be assisted to reach workable solutions, the group will be looking at alternative enforcement mechanisms. It is due to report in the summer.