Law Society of Scotland
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Family Law

The Children's Hearing (Scotland) Act 2011 Safeguarders Panel Regulations 2012

The purpose of this consultation process is to seek views on the draft Safeguarders Panel Regulations 2012.

The Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) introduces significant changes to the management of safeguarders, in particular it removes responsibility from each local authority to establish a local safeguarder panel and provides for the establishment of a national Safeguarders Panel.

Registration of Civil Partnerships, same sex marriage and related issues

This consultation paper seeks views on the possibility of allowing religious ceremonies for civil partnerships and the possible introduction of same sex marriage.

Rights of Children and Young People Bill

This is a Scottish Government consultation on a Rights of Children and Young People Bill, which will establish in law the responsibilities of the Scottish Ministers to have due regard to the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) when exercising any of their functions. The UNCRC spells out the basic human rights of children up to the age of 18 everywhere. The Scottish Government's approach to children's rights is already firmly based on the UNCRC.

The Bill will ensure that all Scottish Government policy and legislation takes account of the rights of children and young people and can be framed in such a way as to promote and secure those rights.

Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2011

the Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments No 2) Regulations 2011 ("the
Regulations"), which implement a number of minor and technical amendments
to existing regulations governing how the Child Support Agency ("the
Agency"), on behalf of the Commission carries out its statutory functions

This consultation concerns the provisions that are proposed to include in the Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments No 2) Regulations 2011which implement a number of minor and technical amendments to existing regulations governing how the Child Support Agency, on behalf of the Commission carries out its statutory functions.

National Audit Office - Value for Money study on the administration of Child Maintenance

The Society was contacted directly by the NAO to comment on the study.  This study will examine whether the Department for Work and Pensions and the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission are well placed to establish cost-effective child maintenance arrangements in the future. This study is part of a programme of work looking at structured cost reduction across government.

Matrimonial property regimes and the property consequences of registered partnerships - How should the UK approach the Commission's proposals in these areas?

This is a joint consultation produced by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), Scottish Government and the Department of Finance & Personnel, Northern Ireland.

The European Commission has published two proposed Regulations concerning jurisdiction, applicable law and the recognition and enforcement of decisions in matters concerning matrimonial property regimes and the property consequences of registered partnerships.

This consultation paper sought views on whether it is in the UK's national interests to be a party to these Regulations, i.e. whether the UK should opt in to the proposals or not and/or be party to the forthcoming negotiations on these proposals

Strengthening families, promoting parental responsibility: the future of child maintenance

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) published this consultation paper to seek views on the Government's strategy for reforming the child maintenance system. It is based on the Coalition Government's principle of enabling parents to take responsibility for their families.