CHILDREN AND SHARED PARENTING

Early day motion 546, tabled 21 January 2003 by Edward Leigh (Conservative). Signed by 110 members.

That this House believes that children are best brought up with the full involvement of both their natural parents and, if possible, grandparents and members of their wider family; further believes that all children of separated parents are entitled to the love, personal care and support of both their natural parents in their everyday lives unless reason is shown otherwise; further believes that both parents have a duty to support the relationship of a child with the other parent; further believes that public and private institutions should recognise both parents of children with whom they deal; further believes that all involved parties should seek to minimise any loss or damage done by divorce or separation or alienation to children's relationships with either of their parents or with their wider family; further believes that the rewards of, sacrifices of resources devoted to parenting should be fairly shared between the parents; and calls for public policy to be adapted to remove obstacles to this objective.

Signatures by party: Conservative 39, Labour 36, Liberal Democrat 23, Labour/Co-operative 3, DUP 2, UUP 2, Independent 1, Independent Conservative 1, Independent Ulster Unionist 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Scottish National Party 1.