PARENTAL RIGHTS OF CONVICTED RAPISTS

Early day motion 1999, tabled 23 January 2019 by Louise Haigh (Labour). Signed by 97 members.

That this House notes the case of Sammy Woodhouse, in which a man convicted of rape and serving a 35-year prison sentence was notified of family court proceedings for the child he fathered as a result of the rape; further notes that the man had no parental responsibilities for the child; regrets that Rotherham Council believes that it would not have secured an exemption to notify under the current criteria; further regrets that the presumption in the law is that a rapist is notified when decisions are made about a child fathered through rape; and calls on the Government to amend the Children's Act 1989 to remove the parental rights of men who have fathered children through rape and to review the relevant Practice Directions to prevent rapist fathers from being notified of family court proceedings.

Signatures by party: Labour 63, Conservative 10, Labour/Co-operative 8, Scottish National Party 5, Liberal Democrat 3, Plaid Cymru 3, DUP 2, Independent 2, Green 1.