Children and Adoption Bill [HL]

My Lords, I need to explain to the House and, indeed, to the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, why, when the Conservative Benches supported an amendment which was probably more prescriptive, we are not supporting this one. The amendment is wholly admirable and I entirely agree with the sentiments expressed by the noble Baroness. In a way this matter is rather like the parenting time plans that we tried to introduce. We discussed at what stage one should ““capture”” parents, how they are to know what is expected, and what the courts might do. However, I am concerned about the matter as we sometimes come at it from different angles. The Government have said that every case is different, but we have said that there are similarities between cases. We still believe that there are similarities and that guidelines can be drawn up along the lines explained by the noble Baroness that can say to parents, ““This is what will happen when you split up if you cannot resolve the issues yourselves””. However, every case is then different and you have to sit down with people who can put that provision into force and discuss those cases. Therefore, although I absolutely agree with what the noble Baroness is trying to do, I do not think that the amendment would achieve it.