Chamber
Plenary, 14 Sep 2000
14 Sep 2000 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Family Law
I thank the minister for the copy of his statement, and I generally welcome its contents. I particularly welcome his support for marriage, and his words that "nothing . . . will change that".
Given the steps recently taken by the Government to remove some of the material benefits of marriage, and given some of the practical advantages that will come as a consequence of today's statement, can the minister find the means of restoring some specific advantage to marriage, to support the belief that the contract of marriage offers protection for man, wife and children alike?
We welcome the minister's proposals on unmarried fathers' rights, where, from the outset, responsibility and care has been demonstrated, but we do not welcome the delay in implementation. Given, perhaps rightly, that there is to be no retrospection, would it not be preferable for the minister to act now rather than to engage in further consultation?
I have a series of short questions. One is on grandparents, and I back Roseanna Cunningham's comments. Having listened to the minister's response to her, I ask him to re-examine the issue. It was perhaps covered by the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, but there still seems to be a deficiency.
Can the minister explain what he means by a
"clearer and fairer regime for occupancy of the shared home"
at times of separation? There is currently no influence on the courts with regard to financial or care effects on children. Why does not the minister feel that we should legislate to change that? What evidence is there to suggest that speedier divorces will benefit children? My impression is that the majority of children are deeply wounded by parental separation.
What grounds does the minister have for making the statement that
"It is inconceivable that couples who would otherwise stay together will be encouraged to separate as a result of those changes",
given that passage of time is a great healer?
The minister recognises that if his proposals on mediation were to become law, there would be a short-term increase in the number of divorces. On that basis, will he undertake to ensure that central Government will provide a short-term boost to mediation services to cover that increase? Given local authorities' current difficulties with their block grants, it is extremely unlikely that they will be able to cough up in such a situation. Will he take on board the responsibilities of the Government to meet totally the short-term upward cost of mediation, given that this will be its legislation?
Given the steps recently taken by the Government to remove some of the material benefits of marriage, and given some of the practical advantages that will come as a consequence of today's statement, can the minister find the means of restoring some specific advantage to marriage, to support the belief that the contract of marriage offers protection for man, wife and children alike?
We welcome the minister's proposals on unmarried fathers' rights, where, from the outset, responsibility and care has been demonstrated, but we do not welcome the delay in implementation. Given, perhaps rightly, that there is to be no retrospection, would it not be preferable for the minister to act now rather than to engage in further consultation?
I have a series of short questions. One is on grandparents, and I back Roseanna Cunningham's comments. Having listened to the minister's response to her, I ask him to re-examine the issue. It was perhaps covered by the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, but there still seems to be a deficiency.
Can the minister explain what he means by a
"clearer and fairer regime for occupancy of the shared home"
at times of separation? There is currently no influence on the courts with regard to financial or care effects on children. Why does not the minister feel that we should legislate to change that? What evidence is there to suggest that speedier divorces will benefit children? My impression is that the majority of children are deeply wounded by parental separation.
What grounds does the minister have for making the statement that
"It is inconceivable that couples who would otherwise stay together will be encouraged to separate as a result of those changes",
given that passage of time is a great healer?
The minister recognises that if his proposals on mediation were to become law, there would be a short-term increase in the number of divorces. On that basis, will he undertake to ensure that central Government will provide a short-term boost to mediation services to cover that increase? Given local authorities' current difficulties with their block grants, it is extremely unlikely that they will be able to cough up in such a situation. Will he take on board the responsibilities of the Government to meet totally the short-term upward cost of mediation, given that this will be its legislation?
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
Good morning. Our first item of business this morning is a statement by Mr Jim Wallace on family law.
The Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice (Mr Jim Wallace):
LD
There can be few subjects as important for our Parliament to deal with as family law. The family is all-important to the welfare of society and, especially, ...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Although the statement is important, I appeal for short exchanges, as we are under heavy pressure from members who want to speak in the debate on transport.
Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP):
SNP
I broadly welcome today's white paper and the Minister for Justice's announcements. The white paper's proposals are particularly welcome in several areas; fo...
Mr Wallace:
LD
I thank Roseanna Cunningham for her general welcome for the proposals and I look forward to working with her and the Justice and Home Affairs Committee in th...
Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con):
Con
I thank the minister for the copy of his statement, and I generally welcome its contents. I particularly welcome his support for marriage, and his words that...
Mr Wallace:
LD
I welcome Mr Gallie's general welcome for the proposals. He raised the question of marriage, and I can confirm what I indicated on the subject in my statemen...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Now that the Opposition parties have had their say, I appeal for short questions and answers, as many members want to speak.
Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the Deputy First Minister's statement and echo what Roseanna Cunningham said about the Justice and Home Affairs Committee's proposed bill on domest...
Mr Wallace:
LD
I shall deal with that last point first. In talking about joint registration, we mean joint registration with the consent of both parties. I hope that that a...
Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD):
LD
I thank the minister for his statement and the white paper. I welcome the increase in funding for mediation services. Will the minister consider extending fu...
Mr Wallace:
LD
I thank Euan Robson for his welcome for the proposals. My colleague Jackie Baillie announced in March this year that we had approved 48 projects to assist vi...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I was a practising family lawyer until I was elected to the Parliament and in that time I am afraid I dealt with only one reconciliation.I have three small p...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Short questions.
Christine Grahame:
SNP
They are very short questions. Would Mr Wallace reconsider the position on grandparents, who will not have recourse to mediation services at the moment? I we...
Mr Wallace:
LD
I do not think that there is much to add on grandparents, except that Christine Grahame is making a slightly different point about access to mediation servic...
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab):
Lab
I particularly welcome the theme of the statement, that the welfare of children is the ultimate objective. My question on the new provision of one-year divor...
Mr Wallace:
LD
I am certainly prepared to try to get further information on the length of time that things take, but Pauline McNeill and the Parliament will appreciate that...
Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD):
LD
In relation to the Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act 1981, is there any intention to widen the grounds of application, in terms of occupan...
Mr Wallace:
LD
I cannot give an immediate or definite answer to Robert Brown. I understand his point. There are some proposals to amend the law in terms of occupancy. I wil...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the power of arrest that is to be attached to a greater number of interdicts. I also welcome the fact that the changes to parental rights are not t...
Mr Wallace:
LD
As I said in my statement, we hope to put the funding arrangements on a better statutory footing. I am sure that One Parent Families Scotland will be able to...
Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I add my voice to the congratulations to the minister on his statement. Does the Executive consider that further protection is needed for children, especiall...
Mr Wallace:
LD
Issues of contact are determined by the courts on the important ground of the best interests of the child. I am aware, and I am sure that Gil Paterson is awa...
Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the minister's statement. Will the minister give considerations to the rights of the child in respect of access to medical information where the ch...
Mr Wallace:
LD
I can tell that the issue of access by grandparents to children will be raised in response to the consultation. As I suggested earlier, if members have propo...
Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con):
Con
Is the minister aware of the comments of Lady Justice Butler-Sloss, the president of the family division of the High Court, who has spoken out against parent...
Mr Wallace:
LD
It is perhaps more important that those views are considered by the courts when they come to determine individual cases. It is important that every case is c...
Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD):
LD
The discrimination legislation means that it is illegal to discriminate on the ground of sexual orientation and, therefore, it is implicit that the term co-h...
Mr Wallace:
LD
I remind Nora Radcliffe of my comments on 20 January, when I said that there are no plans to make changes to the law in relation to same-sex couples. The pro...