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1713538

registered interest
date	24/04/2024
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Child Rearing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle parental alienation.
tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
uin	23537
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>The Government does not recognise the concept of “parental alienation” and does not accept that it is a syndrome capable of diagnosis.</p><p>In his judgment in the case of <em>Re C</em> the President of the Family Division detailed that the courts focus should be on the “identification of ‘alienating behaviour’” rather than seeking “to determine whether the label ‘parental alienation’ can be applied”. In providing advice to the court, Cafcass does not recognise “parental alienation” and instead looks at the individual behaviours of a parent. In cases where a child is resistant, or refuses, to see a parent Cafcass Family Court Advisers must first consider whether domestic abuse or other forms of harmful parenting are a contributing factor.</p><p>The Government is aware of concerns of about unregulated “parental alienation” experts being instructed in the family courts. To address this issue, we are working with the Family Procedure Rule Committee to make changes to the Family Procedure Rules and their associated Practice Directions to prevent the instruction of these unregulated experts.</p> answering member constituency Finchley and Golders Green answering member printed Mike Freer question first answered 01/05/2024 16:39:25 answering member 4004 label Biography information for Mike Freer
tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

1671247

registered interest
date	20/11/2023
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Child Rearing
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many complaints the Health and Care Professionals Council has received since 2020 regarding professionals under their regulation providing evidence of parental alienation in court cases.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Leicester
uin	HL416
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2023 answer text <p>The Department does not hold the information requested. As the independent regulator of 15 health and care professions, the Health and Care Professions Council is responsible for receiving and handling complaints about practitioners on its register.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 27/11/2023 14:47:56 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
tabling member	4947 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Leicester

1379937

registered interest
date	18/11/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Child Rearing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether parental alienation is a category on children's services assessments.
tabling member constituency	South Shields
tabling member printed	Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck
uin	77462
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2021 answer text <p>All social workers in England must meet the professional standards set by the regulator, Social Work England. Providers of initial training must meet the education and training standards, also set by the regulator, to ensure their students can meet the professional standards. The department has also introduced clear post-qualifying standards, setting out the knowledge and skills expected of child and family social workers.</p><p>These standards cover working with parents, including managing tensions between parents and family members, the effect of different parenting styles and assessing parental capacity and capability to change.</p><p>It is for providers of initial education, ongoing training and local authority employers to decide specific areas of focus, for example, parental alienation, within social worker training, with reference to the relevant standards. This enables training at all levels to be tailored to the needs of individuals, responsive and up to date.</p><p>The definitions and risk factor categories defined in the department’s data collection on initial and end of assessments are not intended to be exhaustive, and parental alienation is not a specific category. However, all potential risk factors will be assessed including the impact of such behaviours on a child and the extent to which they may be considered harmful.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 77463 question first answered 23/11/2021 16:46:26 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4277 label Biography information for Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

1379938

registered interest
date	18/11/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Child Rearing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether parental alienation is part of a social worker's (a) initial and (b) ongoing training.
tabling member constituency	South Shields
tabling member printed	Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck
uin	77463
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2021 answer text <p>All social workers in England must meet the professional standards set by the regulator, Social Work England. Providers of initial training must meet the education and training standards, also set by the regulator, to ensure their students can meet the professional standards. The department has also introduced clear post-qualifying standards, setting out the knowledge and skills expected of child and family social workers.</p><p>These standards cover working with parents, including managing tensions between parents and family members, the effect of different parenting styles and assessing parental capacity and capability to change.</p><p>It is for providers of initial education, ongoing training and local authority employers to decide specific areas of focus, for example, parental alienation, within social worker training, with reference to the relevant standards. This enables training at all levels to be tailored to the needs of individuals, responsive and up to date.</p><p>The definitions and risk factor categories defined in the department’s data collection on initial and end of assessments are not intended to be exhaustive, and parental alienation is not a specific category. However, all potential risk factors will be assessed including the impact of such behaviours on a child and the extent to which they may be considered harmful.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 77462 question first answered 23/11/2021 16:46:26 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4277 label Biography information for Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

1367043

registered interest
date	08/11/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Child Rearing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the prevalence of the use of parental alienation accusations in the family courts.
tabling member constituency	Poplar and Limehouse
tabling member printed	Apsana Begum
uin	71484
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2021 answer text <p>Incidences of alleged parental alienation by either parent in relation to family proceedings about child arrangements are not recorded centrally. Such information can only be obtained from individual case files at disproportionate cost.</p><p>In assessing the child’s best interests, the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) assess and report any concerns about alienating behaviours to the court, focusing on the impact on the child’s safety and welfare and in the context of wider family dynamics. Parents are also able to inform the court of any concerns they may have about the other parent. Cafcass’ Child Impact Assessment Framework includes various tools and guidance that further support social work practitioners in identifying where a child expresses reluctance to have an ongoing relationship with a parent, including domestic abuse, persistent and harmful conflict and alienating behaviours.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge grouped question UIN 71485 question first answered 19/11/2021 12:19:13 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
tabling member	4790 label Biography information for Apsana Begum

1365601

registered interest
date	02/11/2021
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Child Rearing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the impact of delays in family courts on cases of parental alienation.
tabling member constituency	Oxford East
tabling member printed	Anneliese Dodds
uin	68414
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2021 answer text <p>The Government recognises the additional pressures that the family justice system has faced since the Covid-19 pandemic, and the impact this has had on children and families who use the family courts. Cases with the most significant safeguarding issues remain our priority.</p><p>The child’s welfare is the paramount consideration when considering child arrangement issues and in dealing with allegations of parental alienation. In assessing the child’s best interests, the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) assesses and reports any concerns about alienating behaviours to the court, focusing on the impact on the child’s safety and welfare and in the context of wider family dynamics. Parents are also able to inform the court of any concerns they may have about the other parent.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 08/11/2021 17:11:06 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
tabling member	4657 label Biography information for Anneliese Dodds

1339452

registered interest
date	23/06/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Child Rearing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to include parental alienation in the statutory guidance of the Domestic Abuse Bill.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Siobhan Baillie
uin	21361
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2021 answer text <p>For the first time in history there is in statute a wide-ranging definition of domestic abuse which incorporates a range of abuses beyond physical violence, including emotional, coercive or controlling behaviour, and economic abuse.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Secretary is to issue statutory guidance on domestic abuse, under section 84 of the Domestic Abuse Act to support the implementation of the definition of domestic abuse introduced by the Act.</p><p> </p><p>The guidance aims to provide information to help with recognising abuse and how it may impact different victims. This includes children, who are for the first time recognised as victims of domestic abuse in their own right. In addition, it seeks to provide support to frontline professionals, signpost other sources of guidance, useful resources and tools. A finalised version of the guidance is not yet available, the Home Secretary is required under the legislation to undertake consultation ahead of finalising the guidance and before it may be issued, details of this will follow in due course. A draft of the guidance was published during the passage of the Bill, and is available for reference:</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/896640/Draft_statutory_guidance_July_2020.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/896640/Draft_statutory_guidance_July_2020.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 02/07/2021 12:17:13 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
tabling member	4847 label Biography information for Siobhan Baillie

1191192

registered interest
date	28/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Child Rearing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps are the Government taking to tackle parental alienation.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	41131
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government is aware of the difficulties that parents can face in continuing a relationship with their child following parental separation or divorce, sometimes because of the obstructive behaviour of the other parent.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is confident that the family justice system can robustly address such behaviour when it is alleged in child arrangements cases. The child’s welfare is the paramount consideration when considering this issue. In assessing the child’s best interests, the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) reports any concerns about alienating behaviours to the court. Parents are also able to inform the court of any concerns they may have about the other parent.</p><p> </p><p>Cafcass is continuing to develop its work in addressing parental alienation when it arises in child arrangements cases. Launched in October 2018, its Child Impact Assessment Framework (CIAF) includes various tools and guidance that further support social work practitioners in identifying how individual children are experiencing parental separation, including any alienating behaviour by one parent against the other. Further information about the Framework is available on the Cafcass website at www.Cafcass.gov.uk.</p> answering member constituency Cheltenham answering member printed Alex Chalk question first answered 04/05/2020 16:49:07 answering member 4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1127580

registered interest
date	20/05/2019
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Child Rearing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to invest in evidence-based parenting support.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	256283
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>Becoming a parent is an important period and opportunity to offer evidence-based advice and support whilst creating opportunities to support a child’s very early development.</p><p>Through our new workforce of Mental Health Support Teams, staffed by a new role of Education Mental Health Practitioners, we are providing new capacity for addressing the needs of children and young people with mild to moderate mental health issues. The first cohort of trainees started in early 2019 and the first wave of trailblazer areas will become operational during 2019. The Support Teams will provide evidence-based interventions, which may include family-based behaviour change interventions, which can be successfully delivered to help reduce child conduct problems.</p> answering member constituency Thurrock answering member printed Jackie Doyle-Price question first answered 29/05/2019 14:24:55 answering member 4065 label Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1125790

registered interest
date	09/05/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Child Rearing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the merits of rewarding parents for looking after their own children in their formative years.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	252520
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting parents looking after children and does so in a number of ways throughout their formative years.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>For instance, every year the Government spends more than £11bn on Child Benefit to support those families raising children. There is also a comprehensive crediting system in place to support those who cannot work due to illness or if they are caring for someone, including parents looking after a child under 12. These help maintain an individual's National Insurance record and so protect their entitlement to the basic State Pension and certain other state benefits.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 14/05/2019 11:28:21 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly