Children and Adoption Bill [HL]

I thank the Minister for that clear explanation, which I shall read carefully in Hansard. I hope that no one would ever accuse me of short-termism and his comments about the long-term interests of the child being balanced by any short-term disruption of contact with a parent weigh heavily with me. We are most concerned about those, I hope, rare situations when a mother refuses contact, despite a contact order being in place, because she, rightly or wrongly, fears domestic violence and she would rather go to prison than put her child in danger. We are concerned that in such a case a court would look extremely carefully at the allegations. I do bear in mind the comments of the noble Earl, Lord Howe, about the fact that this type of court is not really set up for the finding of fact in such a situation and would rely heavily on CAFCASS officers to advise it. For the moment, I will leave the matter aside. We will consult further and read what the Minister said in Hansard.