Clause 4 - Enforcement orders

Part of Children and Adoption Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee am 9:15 am ar 16 Mawrth 2006.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Ann Coffey Ann Coffey PPS (Rt Hon Alistair Darling, Secretary of State), Scotland Office, PPS (Rt Hon Alistair Darling, Secretary of State), Department for Transport 9:15, 16 Mawrth 2006

When the subject was discussed in the Committee that considered the draft Bill, I was slightly confused. My understanding of an enforcement order is that a court decides whether to make the parent do a period of unpaid work or to send them to jail. When we discussed that, we considered the way in which magistrates interpret the law. For example, the paramountcy of the child cannot be the major consideration at that time, otherwise no parent of any child would ever be sentenced. I remain slightly confused.