Oral Answers to Questions

Stephanie Peacock Excerpts

Tuesday 13th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Frazer]

As my right hon. Friend implies, every parent who separates wants to continue to have contact with their child. I was pleased to talk about this issue with him and my hon. Friend the Member for North West Leicestershire (Andrew Bridgen). I have taken up their proposal and spoken about it with the president of the family division, as well as with a number of organisations that deal with children and legal representatives in the family courts. I should say that they all have differing perspectives, but we are looking at this matter very closely.

[Stephanie Peacock (Barnsley East) (Lab)]

It is now two years since the Government made a commitment to ban perpetrators from cross-examining victims of domestic abuse in family courts, which the Minister has just mentioned, but when will she actually follow through on that and finally act on this issue?

[Lucy Frazer]

We will follow through on this issue, which is a Government priority—

[Stephanie Peacock]

But when?

[Lucy Frazer]

It will be in a Bill as soon as legislation and the parliamentary timetable allow.