King's academic's amendment to Children and Families Bill debated in House of Lords

An amendment to the Children and Families Bill 2013, drafted by Stephen Gilmore and Professor Emeritus Mary Hayes (Sheffield), was debated in Grand Committee of the House of Lords earlier this month.  

The amendment concerned section 31(2) of the Children Act 1989, which sets out the threshold for State intervention in family life to protect children.  In particular, the amendment sought to address the Supreme Court’s interpretation of section 31(2) in Re J [2013] UKSC 9, of which Stephen has been highly critical (see S Gilmore, ‘Bulwarks and logic - the blood which runs through the veins of law - but how much will be spilled in future?’ [2013] Child and Family Law Quarterly 215-236).  

A transcript of the lively debate can be viewed on the parliament website.  The Government acknowledged that the amendment raised an important and difficult issue and agreed that the matter would be considered again at Report Stage of the Bill.