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Children and Adoption Act 2006
This Bill is based on the proposals of the white paper, “Parental Separation: Children’s Needs and Parents’ Responsibilities, Next Steps”, published in January 2005.
The Bill is split into two parts. The first part of the Bill will provide more flexible powers for courts, allowing them to facilitate contact and enforce contact orders made under the Children Act 1989.
The second part of the Bill will provide a statutory framework for the suspension of inter-country adoptions.
Courts will be given powers to direct parties to undertake a “contact activity” for those in a contact case, by attending information sessions and meetings with counsellors. It would also provide courts with the power to attach conditions where a person is required to undertake a contact activity.
In terms of inter-country adoption, the Bill aims to provide a statutory framework that will introduce restrictions for inter-country adoptions from certain countries where there are “public policy concerns” surrounding the process for inter-country adoption, such as child trafficking.
The Bill also permits the Department for Education and Skills to demand an administrative charge for processing inter-country adoption cases.
Progress
House of Lords
First reading: June 13 2005 (HL Bill 10)
Second reading: June 29 2005
Grand Committee:
Report stage: November 14 2005 (HL Bill 40)
Third reading: November 29 2005
House of Commons
First reading: November 30 2005 (HC Bill 96)
Second reading: March 2 2006
Standing committee B
Remaining stages: June 20 2006
Royal Assent: June 21 2006
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