Children and Families Bill Committee Stage Report

This is a report on the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Children and Families Bill. It complements Research Paper 13/11 prepared for the Commons Second Reading and has been written to inform the Report Stage debate.

The Bill would reform legislation relating to adoption and children in care; aspects of the family justice system; children and young people with special educational needs; the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England; statutory rights to leave and pay for parents and adopters; time off work for ante-natal care; and the right to request flexible working.

The Bill was carried over from session 2012-13. The Bill discussed in this paper is Bill 131 of that session, as originally presented and considered in Public Bill Committee.