Children and families Archives

Research Briefing

Key Issues for the 2015 Parliament

Tuesday, 19 May, 2015

This book examines the key issues facing the House of Commons over the course of the 2015 Parliament - from the public finances to the UK’s membership of the EU and from school places for children to climate change.
Research Briefing

Community budgets and city deals

Thursday, 14 May, 2015

This note outlines community budget initiatives - local agreements to pool strategic planning and budgets between public bodies in a given area. It also discusses City Deals, negotiated between large city councils and the Government.
Research Briefing

Constituency Casework: A guide to age related legislation

Friday, 21 November, 2014

This note sets out the age restrictions that define a child in a variety of aspects of life including: contracts; debt; housing; benefits; education; employment and medical treatment, with reference to the relevant legislation in each case.
- Research Briefing
- Children and families
Research Briefing

Childcare Payments Bill

Thursday, 06 November, 2014

This is a report of the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Childcare Payments Bill. The Bill would introduce a new tax-free childcare scheme to support eligible parents with childcare costs. Under the scheme, the Government would provide 20 per cent support on costs up to £10,000 per year for each child via an online account. The Government would top up any payments made into the account, capped at a maximum Government contribution of £2,000 a year for each child.
Research Briefing

Youth services: support under the Coalition Government

Thursday, 06 November, 2014

This note provides a brief overview of youth services policy under the Coalition Government. It includes information on funding for youth services.
Research Briefing

Inter-racial adoption

Wednesday, 29 October, 2014

This note provides information on the current law and policy on inter-racial adoption.
Research Briefing

Past adoption practices and the disclosure of adoption information

Thursday, 09 October, 2014

This note provides a brief history of adoption legislation, including on forced adoption practices, and the subsequent reform of the law to allow adopted children, birth parents and others to establish contact.
Research Briefing

Calls for reform of the criminal law on child neglect

Wednesday, 04 June, 2014

The current criminal offence of child neglect is set out in section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. The charity Action for Children has launched a campaign calling for reform of the law, arguing that the legislation needs to "catch up" with modern society's understanding of neglect. Initially the Government said it had no plans to change the law in this area as the courts and children's services already interpret the 1933 Act "in a contemporary way". However, it now plans to legislate (via the Serious Crime Bill announced in the 2014 Queen's Speech) to make clear that the offence covers serious emotional neglect and psychological harm.
Research Briefing

Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England

Thursday, 27 March, 2014

The development of the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England since its establishment in 2005, including the 2014 reforms.
- Research Briefing
- Children and families
Research Briefing

Government support for childcare and childcare reform under the Coalition Government

Wednesday, 29 January, 2014

This note provides an overview of Government childcare policies since 2010.
Research Briefing

School funding: 2006–2010 policy changes under the Labour Government

Friday, 29 November, 2013

This Note provides background to the introduction of the Labour Government's school funding reforms in 2006, details of the reforms (which included the introduction of a ring-fenced schools budget, known as the Dedicated Schools Grant), and the March 2010 consultation on the introduction of a school funding formula.
Research Briefing

Children and Families Bill Committee Stage Report

Friday, 31 May, 2013

The Children and Families Bill introduces a wide range of legislation concerning adoption and children in care, aspects of family justice law, special educational needs, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England, child care, statutory rights to leave and pay for parents and adopters, time off work for ante-natal care, and the right to request flexible working. This paper complements Research Paper 13/11 prepared for the Commons Second Reading.
Research Briefing

Children and Families Bill

Friday, 15 February, 2013

The Children and Families Bill introduces a wide range of legislation concerning adoption and children in care, aspects of family justice law, special educational needs, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England, child care, statutory rights to leave and pay for parents and adopters, time off work for ante-natal care, and the right to request flexible working. This paper has been prepared for the Second Reading of the Bill.
Research Briefing

Family Justice (Transparency, Accountability and Cost of Living) Bill

Thursday, 25 October, 2012

The Bill has three parts. Part 1 deals with transparency and accountability in connection with cases concerning children and proceedings in the Court of Protection. Part 2 contains other provisions relating to the administration of justice; and Part 3 deals with the cost of living and measures to achieve lower fuel bills.
Research Briefing

Family Justice Review update: Contact and other issues for parents following separation

Monday, 10 September, 2012

A brief overview of the Family Justice Review’s proposals relating to child contact issues and Government’s response to them, as well as the subsequent steps being taken.
- Research Briefing
- Children and families

Total results (page 14 of 16)