Children and Families Bill Committee announce evidence programme
7 March 2013
The House of Commons Public Bill Committee which is considering the Children and Families Bill will hear oral evidence on Thursday 7 March 2013.
The provisional programme of witnesses for the Children and Families Bill Committee has been agreed by its programming sub-committee.
Programme and witnesses
Thursday 7 March - morning session
Taking place in the Boothroyd Room in Portcullis House:
From 11.30am until no later than 12.15pm:
- Ofsted
- Daycare Trust and the Family and Parenting Institute
- National Childminders Association
c12.15pm until no later than 1pm:
- Dr Roger Morgan, Children’s Rights Director of England
- Children England
Thursday 7 March - afternoon session
c2pm until no later than 2.45pm:
- Working Families
- Fawcett Society
c2.45pm until no later than 3.30pm:
- Fatherhood Institute
- Federation of Small Businesses
c3.30pm until no later than 4.15pm:
- Association of Directors of Children’s Services
- Barnardos
The Committee began hearing oral evidence on Tuesday 5 March and will consider the Bill every Tuesday and Thursday from that point, concluding on Tuesday 23 April.
Tuesday 5 March - morning session
Sessions took place in the Boothroyd Room in Portcullis House:
From 8.55am:
- Department for Education
- Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
From 10am:
- The Thomas Coram Foundation for Children (Coram)
- Professor Julie Selwyn, Professor of Child and Family Social Work, University of Bristol
- TACT
From 10.45am:
- David Norgrove, Chair of Family Justice Review and Chair of Family Justice Board
- Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division
- Coram Children’s Legal Centre
Tuesday 5 March - afternoon session
From 2pm:
- Council for Disabled Children
- Every Disabled Child Matters
- Special Education Consortium
From 2.45pm:
- Achievement for All
- Independent Parental Special Education Advice
- Institute of Education
From 3.30pm:
- National Association for Special Educational Needs
- The Communication Trust
- Association of Educational Psychologists
From 4.30pm:
- Association of Colleges
- National Association of Head Teachers
- David Bartram, Assistant Head, Lampton School, Hounslow
From 5.15pm:
- Office of the Children’s Commissioner
Line by line scrutiny of the Bill
Line by line scrutiny of the Bill will take place in Committee Room 11, Palace of Westminster on the following dates:
- Tuesday 12 March - 9.25am and 2pm
- Thursday 14 March - 11.30am and 2pm
- Tuesday 19 March - 9.25am and 2pm
- Thursday 21 March - 11.30am and 2pm
- Tuesday 16 April - 9.25am and 2pm
- Thursday 18 April - 11.30am and 2pm
- Tuesday 23 April - 9.25am and 2pm
The Committee must complete consideration of the Bill no later than 5pm on Tuesday 23 April.
These sessions will be open to the public on a first come, first served basis. There is no system for the prior reservation of seats in Committee Rooms.
It is advisable to allow about 20 minutes to pass through security checks. Timings and room numbers are subject to change.
Aims of the Children and Families Bill 2012-13
The Bill seeks to 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.
- Read more about Bills before Parliament: Children and Families Bill 2012-13
- Find out more About Parliament: Passage of a Bill
Have your say on the Children and Families Bill
Although the Committee will start hearing oral evidence Tuesday 5 March, the Committee is still able to receive written evidence from those with relevant expertise and experience or a special interest in the Government’s Children and Families Bill.
The sooner you send in your submission, the more time the Committee will have to take it into consideration.
The Committee will stop receiving written evidence at the end of the Committee stage on Tuesday 23 April 2013. (When the Committee reports it is no longer able to receive written evidence and it can report earlier than Tuesday 23 April).
Further Information
The Scrutiny Unit can help with any queries about oral evidence.