The Minister for Children writes about EDM 128

 

With regard to EDM 128 on "Equal Parenting", I must clarify that the Government does not support a legal presumption of contact for parents. The fundamental principle of the Children Act 1989 is that it is the interests of the child that are paramount, not the rights of the parents. To introduce a legal presumption of contact could conflict with this principle. There is no automatic right to contact for either fathers or mothers, although in practice the courts have taken the view that in most cases the child's welfare is best served by contact with both parents.

 

I understand that some people believe a legal presumption of contact is needed to stop the courts from denying contact to perfectly fit parents without good reason. However, the Government does not believe a presumption of contact could ever be the solution in contact cases. Inevitably, such a presumption would move the starting point of the courts, requiring them to make a particular kind of order unless presented with strong evidence why they should not. That is fundamentally different to starting from the position of the "best interests of the child", and, most importantly, it would move the courts away from making the welfare of the child its paramount consideration.

PARMJIT DHANDA MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families (since 5 May 2006).

124
Labour MPs have signed EDM 128