§ Mr. ChopeTo Ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skill when he will publish his final response to the Children Act Sub-Committee Report, "Making Contact Work"; and what the reasons are for the delay in publishing the response. [156674]
§ Margaret Hodge[holding answer 26 February 2004]: The Children Act Sub-Committee published its report "Making Contact Work" in February 2002. The then Lord Chancellor's Department published its interim response in August 2002. Following the Machinery of Government changes last year, I now have lead responsibility for child contact issues.
I have, together with my hon. Friends in the Department for Constitutional Affairs, been working carefully to consider how the family justice system and related children's services can better meet the needs of all children and their parents following relationship breakdown. We want to ensure that better outcomes are achieved for children by, where possible, helping parents agree contact arrangements without the intervention of the courts. We have also consulted widely with stakeholders and drawn on their expertise. I expect to publish the Government's response in March.