Dr Caroline Johnson

Dr Caroline Johnson

Conservative — Sleaford and North Hykeham

Speaking in the House of Commons on 10 March 2026

Debate

Courts and Tribunals Bill

Contribution

That is why I have explained that the presumption is that the parents have involvement. The court must take the risks to the child into consideration and, unless shown otherwise, give contact to both parents. If the child is at risk, however, the court has the absolute right to prevent the child from seeing those parents or to restrict contact to different forms and timeframes. The welfare of the child is key in those decisions. That is in line with international law, which I know the Government are fond of. The UN convention on the rights of the child says that parents and children should maintain “personal relations and direct contact with both parents on a regular basis, except if it is contrary to the child’s…interests.”

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