Safeguarding Children: British Overseas Territories Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Safeguarding Children: British Overseas Territories

Baroness Butler-Sloss Excerpts
Wednesday 13th April 2016

(8 years, 1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
None Portrait Noble Lords
- Hansard -

Cross Bench!

Baroness Stowell of Beeston Portrait The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

My Lords, the House is signalling for the Cross Bench and the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Butler-Sloss.

Baroness Butler-Sloss Portrait Baroness Butler-Sloss
- Hansard - -

My Lords, the Minister is no doubt aware that some of the overseas territories have laws on family issues which are considerably behind the laws of this country. To what extent are the Government giving assistance to having a modern version of the Children Act in some of those countries?

Baroness Anelay of St Johns Portrait Baroness Anelay of St Johns
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

The noble and learned Baroness has long professional experience in these matters. In October last year, our Solicitor-General chaired a successful conference of overseas territories Attorneys-General. This was to provide an important forum for encouraging progress on our priorities for the OTs and delivering our obligations for supporting the rule of law and the administration of justice, including matters of reform such as those she refers to.