Ministers extend Children Act consultation period
Ministers have extended the deadline for responses to the Scottish Government's consultation on part 1 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.
Initially scheduled to run until 7 August, the consultation will now remain open until midnight on 28 September 2018.
It covers a wide range of issues that affect children including: how the court considers the views of the child; support for the child; who a child should have contact with; how children and victims of domestic abuse can be protected; and how Scotland can improve the court process for children and young people. (Click here for a news item, and here for a Journal feature.)
Community Safety Minister Ash Denham commented: "This wide-ranging consultation will give us a clear picture of what works and what doesn't in Scotland's family law system. The best interests of the child should be at the heart of each and every case. Responses to the consultation will help us to understand what needs to change to guarantee that this happens in practice.
"We have received significant interest from many children and family organisations and I have decided to extend the deadline for responses to give them more time to engage with those they represent."