31 Dec 2010
27 Dec 2010
Gov Debate - #wco CMEC-CSA (Lords Debate: Public Bodies Bill)
Freud, David raised an interesting point.
Subject(s): CMEC-CSA; Equality; Money; NRP Rights; Parenting
My Lords, this seems to be a relatively short debate, which has shown evidence of the great knowledge and experience that the noble Lord, Lord McKenzie, has in this field. There was a debate recently on the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008, which informs a lot of his questions and points. However, I have not heard anything in those arguments that undermines the primary objective of the coalition Government to restore ministerial accountability for child maintenance. ..(more)..
Comment by #wco:
Other contacts:
More details can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?gid=2010-12-21a.1058.0
Published: 21/12/2010 19:30:00
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http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
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Subject(s): CMEC-CSA; Equality; Money; NRP Rights; Parenting
My Lords, this seems to be a relatively short debate, which has shown evidence of the great knowledge and experience that the noble Lord, Lord McKenzie, has in this field. There was a debate recently on the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008, which informs a lot of his questions and points. However, I have not heard anything in those arguments that undermines the primary objective of the coalition Government to restore ministerial accountability for child maintenance. ..(more)..
Comment by #wco:
Other contacts:
More details can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?gid=2010-12-21a.1058.0
Published: 21/12/2010 19:30:00
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http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
http://www.wheresmydad.wordpress.com
Gov Debate - #wco Family Courts (Commons Debate: General Matters)
Selous, Andrew raised an interesting point.
Subject(s): Family Courts; Justice; NRP Rights
We can learn a lot from countries such as Australia, which has a much more shared parenting approach, uses much more mediation and is generally more successful.
Another of my constituents is a young father who has a valid contact order in place. He previously had full custody of his little girl. He is not in any way dangerous-indeed, he is a devoted dad. He last saw his daughter in July. She cries out when she sees him and her grandmother in the local shopping centre, longing to be with him. He has tried since July to get a court date to see her before Christmas, but that has not been possible. He left my surgery in tears after I had updated him on what the family court service had said about his case.
Another constituent also had a valid contact order and on 21 June, the Monday after fathers' day, he received a text to say that the mother of his child had disappeared, leaving no address. Even after a court seek-and-find procedure, no address was provided. A first court date was set in a court a long way away from where my constituent lives, but it was adjourned. When the case did get into court on 4 October, the proceedings were shambolic, the judge was not well briefed and the appropriate file was not there. The case was adjourned again until 30 November and, on 28 November, the mother succeeded in getting that hearing adjourned, as-allegedly-a medical report on the child was not ready. When my extremely persistent constituent finally got the case into court earlier this month, he found that the medical report was dated 18 November and had been available for the earlier court hearing, but of course there was no sanction on the mother. The courts allow difficult parents to deprive their children of a relationship with their father.
I am proud to be an MP for a Government who are radical and reforming in many ways, and I put it to the House that we need radical reform of the family justice system. We need a system that is much less winner takes all, less confrontational and less expensive; and we need a system that provides proper enforcement of court-sanctioned contact orders
Comment by #wco:
Other contacts:
More details can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2010-12-21a.1409.0
Published: 21/12/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
http://www.wheresmydad.wordpress.com
Subject(s): Family Courts; Justice; NRP Rights
We can learn a lot from countries such as Australia, which has a much more shared parenting approach, uses much more mediation and is generally more successful.
Another of my constituents is a young father who has a valid contact order in place. He previously had full custody of his little girl. He is not in any way dangerous-indeed, he is a devoted dad. He last saw his daughter in July. She cries out when she sees him and her grandmother in the local shopping centre, longing to be with him. He has tried since July to get a court date to see her before Christmas, but that has not been possible. He left my surgery in tears after I had updated him on what the family court service had said about his case.
Another constituent also had a valid contact order and on 21 June, the Monday after fathers' day, he received a text to say that the mother of his child had disappeared, leaving no address. Even after a court seek-and-find procedure, no address was provided. A first court date was set in a court a long way away from where my constituent lives, but it was adjourned. When the case did get into court on 4 October, the proceedings were shambolic, the judge was not well briefed and the appropriate file was not there. The case was adjourned again until 30 November and, on 28 November, the mother succeeded in getting that hearing adjourned, as-allegedly-a medical report on the child was not ready. When my extremely persistent constituent finally got the case into court earlier this month, he found that the medical report was dated 18 November and had been available for the earlier court hearing, but of course there was no sanction on the mother. The courts allow difficult parents to deprive their children of a relationship with their father.
I am proud to be an MP for a Government who are radical and reforming in many ways, and I put it to the House that we need radical reform of the family justice system. We need a system that is much less winner takes all, less confrontational and less expensive; and we need a system that provides proper enforcement of court-sanctioned contact orders
Comment by #wco:
Other contacts:
More details can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2010-12-21a.1409.0
Published: 21/12/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
http://www.wheresmydad.wordpress.com
Gov Debate - #wco Family Courts (Commons Debate: General Matters)
Selous, Andrew raised an interesting point.
Subject(s): Family Courts; Justice; NRP Rights
Christmas is a time that parents look forward to celebrating with their children when they can. However, for many parents that is not possible-and I am thinking not only of our troops in Afghanistan, but of the 3 million children in this country who live apart from a parent and, in particular, of those who are caught in the family justice system. I think particularly of non-resident parents who are trying to get access to or have contact time, as it is called, with their children. This issue also affects grandparents, aunts and uncles to a very great degree.
Sadly, it is abundantly clear that the present family justice system is much too slow. Its processes are greatly abused by parents with no penalty or sanctions applied. It is far too expensive in many cases. One of my constituents, a father, came to see me to say that he had spent more than £8,000 obtaining a court-sanctioned contact order to see his children. He did not abuse that order, but it was not honoured and he could not get it upheld by the courts or the police. Unsurprisingly, he was then short of money to pay maintenance as he wanted to do.
The most vivid example of the failure to honour a court order came from a warrant officer who came to see me. He took his civilian overcoat off and underneath he was in uniform. On his chest was his badge of office-a crown, as those who have served in the armed forces will know-and he put the court order on the table in front of me with the crown of the court on it, stipulating that he should have time with his children every other weekend. That court order was not honoured, and it was not upheld by the police or the courts. He felt deeply let down.
Comment by #wco:
Other contacts:
More details can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2010-12-21a.1408.0
Published: 21/12/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
http://www.wheresmydad.wordpress.com
Subject(s): Family Courts; Justice; NRP Rights
Christmas is a time that parents look forward to celebrating with their children when they can. However, for many parents that is not possible-and I am thinking not only of our troops in Afghanistan, but of the 3 million children in this country who live apart from a parent and, in particular, of those who are caught in the family justice system. I think particularly of non-resident parents who are trying to get access to or have contact time, as it is called, with their children. This issue also affects grandparents, aunts and uncles to a very great degree.
Sadly, it is abundantly clear that the present family justice system is much too slow. Its processes are greatly abused by parents with no penalty or sanctions applied. It is far too expensive in many cases. One of my constituents, a father, came to see me to say that he had spent more than £8,000 obtaining a court-sanctioned contact order to see his children. He did not abuse that order, but it was not honoured and he could not get it upheld by the courts or the police. Unsurprisingly, he was then short of money to pay maintenance as he wanted to do.
The most vivid example of the failure to honour a court order came from a warrant officer who came to see me. He took his civilian overcoat off and underneath he was in uniform. On his chest was his badge of office-a crown, as those who have served in the armed forces will know-and he put the court order on the table in front of me with the crown of the court on it, stipulating that he should have time with his children every other weekend. That court order was not honoured, and it was not upheld by the police or the courts. He felt deeply let down.
Comment by #wco:
Other contacts:
More details can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2010-12-21a.1408.0
Published: 21/12/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
http://www.wheresmydad.wordpress.com
26 Dec 2010
Gov Written Answer - #wco Family Courts (Education: Lone Parents)
Farron, Tim raised an interesting point.
Subject(s): Family Courts; Equality; Justice; NRP Rights; Parenting
To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will bring forward proposals to tackle parental alienation syndrome by strengthening the shared parenting aspect of the Children Act 2004.
Comment by #wco:
Other contacts: Loughton, Tim
More details can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-12-20a.26459.h
Published: 20/12/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
http://www.wheresmydad.wordpress.com
Subject(s): Family Courts; Equality; Justice; NRP Rights; Parenting
To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will bring forward proposals to tackle parental alienation syndrome by strengthening the shared parenting aspect of the Children Act 2004.
Comment by #wco:
Other contacts: Loughton, Tim
More details can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-12-20a.26459.h
Published: 20/12/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
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Gov Written Answer - #wco Money (Work & Pensions: Disposable Income: Pay)
Meacher, Michael raised an interesting point.
Subject(s): Money; Equality
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the level of median (a) pay and (b) real personal disposable income has been in each year since 1990.
Comment by #wco: Could be useful when arguing about unreasonable CMEC demands or if a NRP is living in technical or real poverty.
Remember to always ask for Discretionary Housing Benefit if you have any overnight contact with your children - the local council should support you with costs for the extra bedroom etc
Other contacts: Grayling, Chris
More details can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-12-14a.30092.h
Published: 14/12/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
http://www.wheresmydad.wordpress.com
Subject(s): Money; Equality
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the level of median (a) pay and (b) real personal disposable income has been in each year since 1990.
Comment by #wco: Could be useful when arguing about unreasonable CMEC demands or if a NRP is living in technical or real poverty.
Remember to always ask for Discretionary Housing Benefit if you have any overnight contact with your children - the local council should support you with costs for the extra bedroom etc
Other contacts: Grayling, Chris
More details can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-12-14a.30092.h
Published: 14/12/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
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Gov Written Answer - #wco Legal Aid (House of Lords: Legal Aid)
Beecham, Jeremy raised an interesting point.
Subject(s): Legal Aid; Family Courts; Equality; Justice; NRP Rights
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are their latest estimates of the number of people receiving legal aid and advice in each of the categories for which the legal aid White Paper proposes to withdraw legal aid or advice.
Comment by #wco:
Other contacts: McNally, Tom
More details can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-12-13a.128.10
http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/legal-aid-reform-151110.htm
Published: 13/12/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
http://www.wheresmydad.wordpress.com
Subject(s): Legal Aid; Family Courts; Equality; Justice; NRP Rights
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are their latest estimates of the number of people receiving legal aid and advice in each of the categories for which the legal aid White Paper proposes to withdraw legal aid or advice.
Comment by #wco:
Other contacts: McNally, Tom
More details can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-12-13a.128.10
http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/legal-aid-reform-151110.htm
Published: 13/12/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
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Gov Written Answer - #wco Family Courts (Justice: Family Courts)
Hart, Simon raised an interesting point.
Subject(s): Family Courts; Education; Justice; Legal Aid; NRP Rights; Money
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effect on the average length of time a case is in the family courts of litigants choosing to represent themselves; and if he will make a treatment.
Comment by #wco:
Other contacts: Djanogly, Jonathan
More details can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-12-13b.29691.h
Published: 13/12/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
http://www.wheresmydad.wordpress.com
Subject(s): Family Courts; Education; Justice; Legal Aid; NRP Rights; Money
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effect on the average length of time a case is in the family courts of litigants choosing to represent themselves; and if he will make a treatment.
Comment by #wco:
Other contacts: Djanogly, Jonathan
More details can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-12-13b.29691.h
Published: 13/12/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
http://www.wheresmydad.wordpress.com
25 Dec 2010
21 Dec 2010
Consultation - #wco Childcare (Tackling Child Poverty and Improving Life Chances: Consulting on a New Approach)
Teather, Sarah raised an interesting point.
Subject(s): Childcare; Education; Money; Parenting
The Government is today launching a consultation on its approach to ending child poverty and improving life chances. Developing a long-term strategy to tackle decades of inter-generational disadvantage requires new approaches and depends on everyone working together. We therefore want to hear from the public, private and voluntary sectors to find the creative solutions and capitalise on opportunities that can help communities and individuals ensure their children have the very best start in life.
Comment by #wco:
Other contacts: Field, Frank Childpoverty.strategy@childpovertyunit.gsi.gov.uk
More details can be read at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/consultations/index.cfm?action=consultationDetails&consultationId=1737&external=no&menu=1
Published: 21/12/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
http://www.wheresmydad.wordpress.com
Subject(s): Childcare; Education; Money; Parenting
The Government is today launching a consultation on its approach to ending child poverty and improving life chances. Developing a long-term strategy to tackle decades of inter-generational disadvantage requires new approaches and depends on everyone working together. We therefore want to hear from the public, private and voluntary sectors to find the creative solutions and capitalise on opportunities that can help communities and individuals ensure their children have the very best start in life.
Comment by #wco:
Other contacts: Field, Frank Childpoverty.strategy@childpovertyunit.gsi.gov.uk
More details can be read at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/consultations/index.cfm?action=consultationDetails&consultationId=1737&external=no&menu=1
Published: 21/12/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
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Gov Ministerial Statement - #wco Justice (Education: Children's Commissioner Review)
Teather, Sarah raised an interesting point.
Subject(s): Justice; Childcare; Equality; Family Courts; NRP Rights; Parenting
This Government are a proud signatory of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), are committed to its implementation, and believe it is vital that children and young people have a strong, independent advocate to champion their interests and views and promote their rights. ...
Comment by #wco:
Other contacts:
More details can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2010-12-06a.5WS.1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UN_Committee_on_the_Rights_of_the_Child
Published: 06/12/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
http://www.wheresmydad.wordpress.com
Subject(s): Justice; Childcare; Equality; Family Courts; NRP Rights; Parenting
This Government are a proud signatory of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), are committed to its implementation, and believe it is vital that children and young people have a strong, independent advocate to champion their interests and views and promote their rights. ...
Comment by #wco:
Other contacts:
More details can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2010-12-06a.5WS.1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UN_Committee_on_the_Rights_of_the_Child
Published: 06/12/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
http://www.wheresmydad.wordpress.com
Gov Written Answer - #wco CMEC-CSA (Work & Pensions: Children: Maintenance)
Lee, Jessica raised an interesting point.
Subject(s): CMEC-CSA; Equality; Money; NRP Rights
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in how many assessed cases currently being dealt with by the Child Support Agency child maintenance liability is abated to take account of shared care arrangements; and what proportion of these cases are abated by (a) one seventh, (b) two sevenths, (c) three sevenths and (d) one half.
Comment by #wco:
Other contacts: Miller, Maria Geraghty, Stephen
More details can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-12-01a.26442.h
Published: 01/12/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
http://www.wheresmydad.wordpress.com
Subject(s): CMEC-CSA; Equality; Money; NRP Rights
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in how many assessed cases currently being dealt with by the Child Support Agency child maintenance liability is abated to take account of shared care arrangements; and what proportion of these cases are abated by (a) one seventh, (b) two sevenths, (c) three sevenths and (d) one half.
Comment by #wco:
Other contacts: Miller, Maria Geraghty, Stephen
More details can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-12-01a.26442.h
Published: 01/12/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
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Gov Written Answer - #wco CMEC-CSA (Work & Pensions: Children: Maintenance)
Sharma, Alok raised an interesting point.
Subject(s): CMEC-CSA; Money
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average difference between the amounts paid by clients of the Child Support Agency on the (a) pre-2002 and (b) post-2002 scheme.
Comment by #wco:
Other contacts: Miller, Maria Geraghty, Stephen
More details can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-12-01a.24372.h
Published: 01/12/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
http://www.wheresmydad.wordpress.com
Subject(s): CMEC-CSA; Money
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average difference between the amounts paid by clients of the Child Support Agency on the (a) pre-2002 and (b) post-2002 scheme.
Comment by #wco:
Other contacts: Miller, Maria Geraghty, Stephen
More details can be read at:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-12-01a.24372.h
Published: 01/12/2010 00:00:00
http://www.wheresmydad.org.uk
http://www.thirdchamber.org.uk
http://www.wheresmydad.wordpress.com
17 Dec 2010
14 Dec 2010
£100K extra donation for @theNSPCC that will go towards the £71.2 million staff costs .. about 69.8% of voluntary donations
http://wheresmydad.wordpress.com/2010/12/05/why-wco-wont-be-putting-cartoons-on-our-profiles-for-the-nspcc/
http://wheresmydad.wordpress.com/2010/12/05/why-wco-wont-be-putting-cartoons-on-our-profiles-for-the-nspcc/
£100K extra donations to @theNSPCC that will go towards £71.2 million staff costs .. about 69.8% of voluntary donations
http://wheresmydad.wordpress.com/2010/12/05/why-wco-wont-be-putting-cartoons-on-our-profiles-for-the-nspcc/
http://wheresmydad.wordpress.com/2010/12/05/why-wco-wont-be-putting-cartoons-on-our-profiles-for-the-nspcc/
5 Dec 2010
Why #wco won’t be putting cartoons on our profiles for the #NSPCC
The wheresmydad.org.uk™ Charitable Organisation was created with the simple vision, philosophy and tagline of “promoting fairness, equality & parity for BOTH parents”.
This is the guiding principle in all of our activities, whether scrutinising parliamentary activity, or building our knowledge systems for our support tool wNat.
This simple statement means we cannot agree to situations where discrimination is present, whether implied or explicit.
Unfortunately this our “sticking point” with the NSPCC. They have spent £250 Million pounds on advertising it’s recent “Full Stop” campaign, that according to New Philanthropy Capital thought the campaign was “flawed and naive” with “zero evidence” it actually benefitted any children.
In addition to this possible waste of a massive amount of money, the NSPCC has consistently opposed an automatic right of contact for both parents, arguing that this is not necessarily in the best interests of the child.
It is for this reason we will not be putting a cartoon character as our profile pictures on social networks.
With an average full time staff of 1871 people, at £57.8 million on wages & salaries and an additional £7.3 million on pensions (Average NSPCC earnings: £30,894 + £3,882 pension totalling £34,776 per year).
Let us not forget the 31 people that earn more than £60,000 per year (6 over £100,000 per year)
Total Voluntary Income (the money you put into the collecting tins etc) …… £102,074,000
Total Employee Costs (paying the people and pensions etc) …… £71,248,000
Therefore, simple arithmetic shows Employee costs are 69.8% of Donations. So that for every £1 you donate, nearly 70 pence is for staff, and just over 30 pence goes to their objectives.
Surely there may be a better way to spend all this money?
More information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Society_for_the_Prevention_of_Cruelty_to_Children
http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/SHOWCHARITY/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=216401&SubsidiaryNumber=0
http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/ScannedAccounts/Ends01/0000216401_ac_20100331_e_c.pdf
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