Barrister's ex-wife wins maintenance case

The former wife of a top barrister today won a lump sum payment of £215,000 from the husband she divorced in 1985.

Full story: The Independent

The Family Proceedings (Amendment) (No.2) Rules 2010

These Rules amend the Family Proceedings Rules 1991.

Statutory Instrument

The Family Proceedings Courts (Children Act 1989) (Amendment) (No.2) Rules 2010

These Rules amend the Family Proceedings Court (Children Act 1989) Rules 1991.

Statutory Instrument

Regulation of children's workers 'hindering judgement'

Government regulation of children's social workers is hindering sound professional judgement, according to Kent Council's chief executive.

Full story: Community Care

Lawyers warning over family experts fee cuts

Slashing the fees of social work experts will put vulnerable children at risk and increase delays in the family court, their representative groups have warned.

Full story: Law Society Gazette

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (Commencement No.3) Order 2010

This Order brings into force on 6th April 2010 the remaining provisions of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (“the 2008 Act”) so far as they are not already in force by virtue of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (Commencement No.1 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2009 and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (Commencement No.2 and Transitional Provision) and (Commencement No.1 Amendment) Order 2009.

Statutory Instrument

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Parental Orders) Regulations 2010

These Regulations which apply to England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland are made under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008.

Statutory Instrument

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Parental Orders) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2010

Article 2 and the Schedule to the Order make consequential amendments to take account of the repeal of section 30 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (“the 1990 Act”) and the bringing into force of section 54 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 and the revocation of the Parental Orders (Human Fertilisation and Embryology) Regulations 1994 (“the 1994 Regulations”) and the Parental Orders (Human Fertilisation and Embryology) (Scotland) Regulations 1994 (“the 1994 (Scotland) Regulations”) at article 5. The areas amended relate to the Parental Order Register, definitions of “surrogate child”, the allocation of court proceedings and social security claims and payments.

Statutory Instrument

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Disclosure of Information for Research Purposes) Regulations 2010

These Regulations are made under section 33D of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (“the Act”) and govern the procedure for applications for authorisations for the disclosure and use of disclosable protected information for medical or other research purposes.

Statutory Instrument

Speech by Sir Mark Potter, President of the Family Division

Address by Sir Mark Potter at the Annual Seminar of District Judges.

Full story: Judiciary of England and Wales (PDF)

Regional groups to replace ICS expert panel

The Integrated Children's System expert panel looks set to be replaced by smaller regional groups focused on improving practice.

Full story: Community Care

Councils incensed as Ofsted changes rules on spot checks

Ofsted has been accused of "moving the goalposts" governing no-notice safeguarding inspections without consulting councils, heightening hostility between children's services chiefs and the watchdog, CYP Now can reveal.

Full story: Children & Young People Now

New grant from 2011 for early intervention work with children

The government has announced a new Children and Young People's grant to help councils continue early intervention and prevention work.

Full story: Community Care

SCR duties hinder local safeguarding children boards' role

The time and resources required to undertake serious case reviews (SCRs) means local safeguarding children boards (LSCBs) have struggled to fulfil other responsibilities, such as those around training and early intervention, according to a government evaluation.

Full story: Community Care

Knowledge of private fostering remains patchy, finds NCB study

Awareness of private fostering is "patchy" among children's social workers according to government-commissioned research.

Full story: Community Care

Independent social work experts complain of cut in fees

A meeting organised by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW), Nagalro and independent social work agencies ISWA and WillisPalmer, was held last week to discuss the prospective cut in fees payable to independent social workers who act as expert witnesses in family proceedings.

Full story: Family Law Week

Fifth of spouses snoop on partners emails and texts

A fifth of spouses admit checking their partner's emails or text messages, according to a new study.

Full story: The Telegraph

New surrogacy law eases the way for gay men to become legal parents

Changes to legislation will recognise growing trend for same-sex couples to become parents, say campaigners.

Full story: The Observer

MP Bryant's civil partnership a 'first' for Westminster

Rhondda MP Chris Bryant has made history by celebrating the first civil partnership ceremony to be held in the Palace of Westminster.

Full story: BBC News

The Children and Young Persons Act 2008 (Commencement No.3) (Wales) Order 2010

This Order brings into force on 31 March 2010 sections 8 and 34 of, and Schedules 2 and 4 to, the Children and Young Persons Act 2008, to the extent specified in the Order.

Statutory Instrument

Revised Public Law Outline

Following the earlier publication today of the Revised Private Law Programme Practice Direction, the revised Public Law Outline has now also been released.

Full story: Family Law Newswatch

Revised Private Law Programme Practice Direction

The long-awaited Revised Private Law Programme Practice Direction has been released by the President of the Family Division.

Full story: Family Law Newswatch

Marriage more stable than living together, Office for National Statistics finds

Married couples are less likely to split up than those who live together, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Full story: Telegraph

Police and NHS to join Haringey scheme to improve child protection

Haringey Council has announced that the Metropolitan Police and NHS are to join a scheme encouraging senior managers to get closer to frontline child protection cases.

Full story: Children & Young People Now

Quality in practice: improving supervision of social work teams

The Social Work Reform Programme is overseeing the development of a national set of universal and binding supervision standards for employers in England.

Full story: Community Care

National college to prioritise reputation of social work

The national college of social work has been tasked with improving the reputation of the profession as a top priority.

Full story: Community Care

The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010

These Regulations bring together in one instrument provisions about the way local authorities plan and review the care of “looked after children” in England.

Statutory Instrument (PDF)

'Marry me, not my millions', said wife in prenuptial court battle

One of the richest women in Germany asked her husband to sign a prenuptial agreement because she wanted him to marry her “for me, not for my money”, a court has heard.

Full story: Telegraph

Confusing promises to deal with delays in care proceedings

The Ministry of Justice has taken the unusual step of producing a 26 page document setting out a list of promises that the Government, its agencies and local authorities will do in order to reduce delays in care and supervision proceedings.

Full story: Family Law Newswatch

Flexible grant for better integrated services for children

Plans announced in the Budget for a new Children and Young People's grant will be trialled from April 2011. This will be a step towards further integration in services for children and young people and should support a shift to more early intervention and prevention.

Full story: DCSF

Budget Highlights for Family Lawyers

Vanessa Hamer, a Tax Partner at RSM Tenon, the national accountancy and consultancy firm, outlines the Budget announcements of most significance to family lawyers.

Full story: Family Law Week

Baby boy seen by care workers 15 times 'starved to death'

A baby boy is feared to have starved to death in his mother’s care despite being seen at least 15 times in six months by care workers.

Full story: Telegraph

Wife wins mortgage appeal after husband's affair

A wife who signed a joint remortgage with her husband while he was having an affair will no longer have to meet her repayments, the Court of Appeal ruled today.

Full story: The Independent

EU moves to clarify divorce laws

The legal minefield of divorce in cases where spouses come from different EU countries may become less complicated under new draft legislation.

Full story: BBC News

Government insists vicars will not be sued for refusing ‘gay marriages’ in churches

Ministers have assured clergy that they will not face legal action if they refuse to carry out new “gay weddings” in churches.

Full story: The Telegraph

Prosecution 'fear' for church civil partnership critics

Plans for civil partnership ceremonies in churches could result in some clergy being prosecuted, a former Archbishop of Canterbury has warned.

Full story: BBC News

Abuse of 'baby-snatcher' social workers finds an outlet online

Social workers involved in sensitive child protection cases are being targeted as angry families vent their fury on blogs.

Full story: The Guardian

Cafcass accused of using £10m to embed duty system

Child protection experts have accused Cafcass of using £10m of new government funding to embed the controversial duty guardian system by the back door.

Full story: Community Care

Quarter of social workers handling 30 cases at once - BASW

About one in four social workers are handling more than 30 cases at once, according to a survey by the British Association of Social Workers.

Full story: Community Care

Baby deaths as a result of abuse rise since Baby P

The number of babies not in care who have died as a result of serious neglect or abuse has risen significantly in the wake of the Baby Peter case, CYP Now has learned.

Full story: Children & Young People Now

Baroness Deech: Risks of cousin marriage not discussed for fear of offending Muslims

The risks of cousins marrying are not discussed for fear of offending Muslims, according to an expert in family law.

Full story: The Telegraph

£100m heiress Katrin Radmacher in Supreme Court prenuptial battle

A former City banker turned biotechnology researcher faces financial ruin if his former wife wins her battle to bind him to a prenuptial contract, the Supreme Court was told yesterday.

Full story: The Times

Man 'faces ruin if pre-nuptial agreement stands' with heiress ex-wife Katrin Radmacher

A university researcher faces financial ruin if his former wife, an heiress said to be worth £100 million, wins her battle to have pre-nuptial agreements recognised in the UK, the Supreme Court was told today.

Full story: The Independent

Ministry of Justice responds to Laming recommendation for reducing delays in care and supervision proceedings

New inter-agency approach comes into force on 1 April 2010.

Full story: Family Law Week

Pre-nup agreements await 'landmark judgment'

The Supreme Court is set to deliver a ruling that will have major consequences for many couples-to-be.

Full story: The Observer

Fashion kings take sides in £400m divorce

SOME of Britain’s biggest business tycoons have made secret payments totalling more than £1m to a woman at the centre of a £400m divorce battle.

Full story: Sunday Times

Rise in marriages between cousins ‘is putting children’s health at risk’

The dangers of marriage between first cousins are to be highlighted by a leading professor, with a warning that their children are at risk of genetic defects.

Full story: The Times

Social services 'missed two chances' to save baby killed by father

A four-week old baby girl was brutally killed by her father despite two warnings from his own parents to health and social services that he posed a danger to children, a report said today.

Full story: The Times

SCR into baby's death criticises court judgements

Judges should explain their decisions to serious case review panels, according to an inquiry into the death of a baby at the hands of her violent father in Kent.

Full story: Community Care

More specialist domestic violence courts offer tailored support to victims

Victims of domestic violence will benefit from a further 14 new specialist domestic violence courts making a total of 141 courts in England and Wales.

Full story: Ministry of Justice

Extra £23m for children's social work 'not enough', says ADCS

The government's £23m grant to relieve pressure on social work teams is too small to cope with the demands facing children's services, employers have warned.

Full story: Community Care

Marriage (Wales) Act 2010

Enables persons to be married in a place of worship in a parish in the Church in Wales with which they have a qualifying connection; and for connected purposes.

www.parliament.uk

Birmingham City Council social workers sacked

Six social workers at Birmingham City Council have been sacked as part of a drive to improve the council's failing children's services.

Full story: BBC News

Family courts' plan threaten children's wellbeing, says Children's Commissioner

Children and young people's concerns about the Government's proposal to allow the media to report more widely on family court proceedings are revealed in new research undertaken by the University of Oxford and published yesterday by the Children's Commissioner for England, Dr Maggie Atkinson.

Full story: Family Law Newswatch

The Family Proceedings (Amendment) Rules 2010

These Rules amend the Family Proceedings Rules 1991.

Statutory Instrument

The Family Proceedings Courts (Children Act 1989) (Amendment) Rules 2010

These Rules amend the Family Proceedings Court (Children Act 1989) Rules 1991.

Statutory Instrument

Laming says LGA may have misinterpreted key recommendation

Lord Laming has backed the government's response to his recommendation on initial assessments, claiming the LGA may have "misinterpreted" what he meant.

Full story: Community Care

Blow for councils as family court fees abolition is delayed

Councils are "disappointed" that family court fees will not be scrapped until 2011, despite an independent report recommending abolition next month.

Full story: Community Care

Supreme Court divorce decision could ‘open the floodgates’

The Supreme Court’s decision to top up the financial award made to a divorcee by a Nigerian court could ‘open the floodgates to forum shopping’ and further clog the London courts, family lawyers have warned.

Full story: Law Society Gazette

Ed Balls - Serious Case Review Executive Summaries should be more transparent and thorough

Ed Balls has confirmed that Local Safeguarding Children Boards will in future be required to produce clear and comprehensive executive summaries of Serious Case Reviews and set out in their annual reports what actions have been taken following SCRs.

Full story: DCSF

Revision of the Public Law Outline

Revisions to the Practice Direction Guide to Case Management in Public Law Proceedings, more commonly known as the Public Law Outline (PLO), are due to come into force on 6 April 2010.

Full story: Family Law Newswatch

Child protection adviser warns Treasury off cuts

Sir Roger Singleton said the budget for children had already been cut by £300m and any further cuts would diminish children's safety.

Full story: The Guardian

Big-money divorces: should prenups be binding?

On Monday the doors of the newly rebranded Supreme Court will open to the latest big-money divorce appeal; the fourth in under ten years.

Full story: The Times

Jack Straw to scrap court fees in care cases

Justice secretary Jack Straw has agreed to scrap controversial court fees in care and supervision cases, after an independent report found they deterred local authorities from starting proceedings.

Full story: Law Society Gazette

Boy forced to move in with father will go to foster home first

A boy being forced to live with a father he “hates” is to go into foster care because the trauma of moving directly from one parent to another is too much, a court has ruled.

Full story: Telegraph

Adviser warns Ed Balls over children's social care funding 'concerns'

Fresh package of funding and reform unveiled as the government's independent child safety adviser warns the children's secretary of a rise in demand on frontline services.

Full story: The Guardian

Laming recommendation on initial assessments scrapped

The government has scrapped a key recommendation made by Lord Laming after the death of Baby P after the LGA said it would need 6,000 extra social workers to implement it.

Full story: Community Care

Government pledges £23m to improve child protection

The government has pledged £23m to support improvements in child protection arrangements and reduce pressure on frontline social workers in England.

Full story: Children & Young People Now

Catholic adoption society wins exemption from using gay parents

Catholic Care has won a high court appeal not to adhere to sexual orientation regulations to use homosexual parents.

Full story: The Guardian

Boy, 12, threatens hunger strike of sent to live with father, court hears

A 12-year-old boy being sent to live with his father against his will has threatened to run away, stop eating and jump out of a moving car, the Court of Appeal heard.

Full story: Telegraph

Call for child protection service inquiry in Wrexham

Concern over the way a child protection service is run has led to calls for an independent inquiry.

Full story: BBC News

The role of the father has been downgraded

Legislation has effectively dismissed the contribution of half the population to the upbringing of the next generation, says Ruth Deech, the chairman of the Bar Standards Board.

Full story: Telegraph

Court fees 'insult' to independent social workers

Hundreds of independent social workers could be forced to stop giving expert evidence in court, following "insulting" government plans to slash their fees.

Full story: Community Care

Not talking? Then try internet counselling

Couples who can’t talk any more are learning how to reconnect with each other — with help from internet counselling.

Full story: The Times

Parents of twins 'more likely to divorce'

Families with twins are more likely to split up with financial distress playing a major role in break-ups, a study has found.

Full story: Telegraph

Baroness Deech: English law no longer has clear concept of marriage

English law no longer has a clear concept of marriage, according to one of the country’s leading family lawyers.

Full story: Telegraph

Baby P: Jack Straw abolishes council cost for taking children into care

Jack Straw has abandoned a controversial scheme to charge councils almost £5,000 to take a child into care, amid claims that it left vulnerable young people at greater risk.

Full story: Telegraph

Child protection court fees scrapped

The government has pledged to scrap family court fees after an official review found evidence that the high cost was deterring some social service departments from applying to take abused and neglected children into care.

Full story: The Guardian

Barnardo's reveals south Asian child adoption 'delays'

South Asian children are having to wait longer for an adoptive family in the UK than white children, children's charity Barnardo's has said.

Full story: BBC News

Red tape 'undermining' social workers in child protection

Bureaucracy is undermining social workers' ability to convince courts to take action in child protection cases, family lawyers have said.

Full story: Community Care

Sheffield and Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Boards apologise to family

Public sector agencies in Sheffield and Lincolnshire last week apologised to a family for failing to protect them from their father who repeatedly raped, and physically and sexually abused them over three decades.

Full story: Family Law Week

South Asian 'slave brides' causing concern in UK

Hundreds of women who came to the UK from South Asia to marry say they have been treated as domestic slaves by their in-laws, the BBC has learned.

Full story: BBC News

What have human rights done for family justice?

Speaking at the Resolution annual conference Mr Justice Andrew Moylan reviewed 10 years of the Human Rights Act and its implications for the operation of family law.

Full story: Resolution

New Chair for Resolution

David Allison takes over as Chair of Resolution, the family lawyers’ association at its annual conference in Manchester this week.

Full story: Resolution

Supreme Court Nigeria ruling reinforces 'divorce capital' reputation

London’s reputation as the divorce payout capital of the world was reinforced by the Supreme Court when it overturned a Nigerian ruling that had left a wife penniless.

Full story: The Times

The Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 (Commencement No. 7) Order 2010

This Order brings into force provisions of the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 (c. 6).

Statutory Instrument

The Children Act 1989 (Contact Activity Directions and Conditions: Financial Assistance) (Revocation and Transitional Provision) (England) Regulations

These Regulations revoke the Children Act 1989 (Contact Activity Directions and Conditions: Financial Assistance) (England) Regulations 2008, which made provision enabling financial assistance to be paid by the Secretary of State in respect of an individual ordered or directed by a court in family proceedings to take part in an activity that promotes contact with a child.

Statutory Instrument

New poll shows political policies out of step with needs of families

A new YouGov poll published today reveals just how out of step political parties are with the realities of family life and breakdown in modern Britain.

Full story: Resolution

Victoria Climbié ten years on: Interview with Lord Laming

Last month marked ten years since Victoria Adjo Climbié, a little eight-year-old girl born near Abidjan in the Ivory Coast, died in London following months of horrific cruelty, torture and neglect.

Full story: Family Law Newswatch

Scrap Laming's social work assessment plans, says LGA

The Local Government Association has called on the government to scrap Lord Laming's recommendation that all referrals from a professional must lead to a formal initial assessment by social workers.

Full story: Community Care

Supreme Court clarifies Part III of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984

The Supreme Court unanimously allowed the Agbaje appeal and in doing so clarified the circumstances in which an order for financial provision can be made under Part III of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984, where a foreign court has made a prior financial order in divorce proceedings.

Full story: Family Law Newswatch

Maggie Atkinson takes up post as Children's Commissioner despite criticism

Dr Maggie Atkinson has taken up her post as the new Children's Commissioner for England, replacing Sir Al Aynsley-Green who retired at the end of his five-year term of office.

Full story: Family Law Newswatch

Sign a 'pre-pup' to prevent a dogfight in the divorce court

Family law experts say including a pet in a pre-marital agreement is a sensible way of preventing custody battles.

Full story: Daily Mail

Children should give evidence, says Supreme Court

Children in family proceedings should be called to give live evidence in court if the advantage it would bring in deciding the case outweighs the risk of harm to the welfare of the child, the Supreme Court ruled last week.

Full story: Law Gazette

Ruling confirms London as divorce payout capital

London's reputation as the divorce payout capital of the world was reinforced by the Supreme Court today.

Full story: The Independent

Social workers spend 20 hours waiting in court per case

Social workers spend more than 20 hours waiting in courtrooms for every care application made according to new research.

Full story: Community Care

Baby P rules 'may put children at more risk'

Rules to improve child protection in the wake of the Baby P case may leave children more at risk, council leaders have warned.

Full story: BBC News

Child protection reforms in wake of Baby P could run up huge bill

Lord Laming's costly recommendations are overloading social workers, council leaders warn.

Full story: The Guardian

LGA wants Laming assessment recommendation to be scrapped

The Local Government Association has called on the government to scrap Lord Laming's recommendation that all referrals from a professional must lead to a formal initial assessment.

Full story: Community Care

Controversy of mother who told girl of Caesarean

A family which defied child protection authorities has made headlines in recent days, but not for the usual reasons.

Full story: BBC News

Worker on child protection case lacked experience

An inexperienced agency social worker who failed to follow proper procedures in a complex child protection case has been admonished for misconduct.

Full story: Community Care

Christian registrar denied leave to appeal gay wedding refusal

A Christian registrar who lost her job after she refused to carry out civil partnership ceremonies has been refused permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Full story: Telegraph

Children 'better off with two parents' married or not

Cohabiting parents have received support in a poll commissioned to coincide with a debate on the family, it was revealed today.

Full story: The Independent

Teachers to lead the way in preventing violence against women and girls

Teachers and professionals working with children and young people will have new support and guidance to lead the way in cracking down on violence against women and girls, the Government announced today on International Women's Day.

Full story: DCSF

NSPCC launches "I stand for children" general election campaign

The NSPCC is calling on all parliamentary candidates to press for legislation that would ensure social workers saw at-risk children alone on home visits.

Full story: Community Care

Courts distrust evidence from social workers

Judges delay decisions in urgent cases affecting vulnerable children to hear from other experts, says report.

Full story: The Guardian

New Children’s Commissioner takes up post

Dr Maggie Atkinson took up her post as the new Children’s Commissioner for England at the beginning of this month.

Full story: Family Law Week

NSPCC calls for law change for social worker cases

Social workers in England involved in child protection cases should be forced to see young people away from their parent or guardians, the NSPCC says.

Full story: BBC News

Straw v. the judges: who should head the family courts system?

Who are the candidates who might take over the plum post as President of the Family Division, apart from the Court of Appeal judge, Sir Nicholas Wall?

Full story: The Times

Most neglected children suffer again on returning home

Children who have been neglected are not being adequately safeguarded when they return home and many suffer further abuse, new research has found.

Full story: Community Care

Spanish authorities seize British child from parents

A British couple who fled to Spain to prevent their baby being taken into care by social services have had the child removed by the Spanish authorities.

Full story: The Times

Baby P: Nobody spoke for us, say Haringey social worker

Social workers at Haringey felt abandoned and isolated during the media outcry over the Baby P case.

Full story: Community Care

Judge 'unfairly' ordered aristocrat to sell family seat in divorce settlement, court told

A millionaire aristocrat, fighting to hold on to the £42 million country estate passed down to him from his father, claims that a divorce judge unfairly punished him for overspending and mismanaging his inheritance.

Full story: Telegraph

Supreme Court removes the presumption that a child should only give evidence in exceptional cases

The Supreme Court has unanimously allowed the appeal of Re W and has remitted the question of whether the child should give evidence, and if so in what way, to a fact finding hearing before Her Honour Judge Marshall scheduled for 8 March.

Full story: Family Law Newswatch

Foster carers 'deserve professional pay'

A charity is claiming that more than three-quarters of foster carers in the UK earn less than the equivalent of the minimum wage, with a third of carers having seriously considered giving up.

Full story: BBC News

The Adoption Support Agencies (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010

These Regulations provide for an exception from the definition of an adoption support agency in section 8 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (‘the 2002 Act’).

Statutory Instrument

Top family law post vacant after challenge to government critic

Jack Straw has challenged the appointment of a new head of the family justice system who castigated the Government over its policies, including opening family courts, The Times has learnt.

Full story: The Times

Gay marriage plan threatens churches says Bishop of Winchester

Church of England clergy will be sued for discrimination if they refuse to “marry” homosexuals under a proposed law, a bishop has warned.

Full story: The Times

From the manor torn: Tycoon fights to keep stately home he says he'll have to sell to fund his £8million divorce

As a multi-millionaire City tycoon and the director of a firm of accountants, Maurice Robson might be expected to be rather good at managing his money. Yet as he contested an £8million divorce payout on Wednesday, a court heard that he is anything but.

Full story: Daily Mail

Catholic adoption agency appeals against gay rights law

A Catholic adoption agency is to launch a High Court appeal today against gay rights legislation forcing it to consider homosexual couples as potential adoptive parents.

Full story: Independent

Straw announces new vision for legal aid delivery

The Ministry of Justice has today announced new plans for the future delivery of legal aid.

Full story: Ministry of Justice

'Sarah's law' pilot scheme prompts revenge fears

Fathers concerned about new boyfriends of ex-partners among largest groups applying for disclosure of child sex offenders, figures show.

Full story: Guardian

Peers vote for church civil partnership ceremonies

The House of Lords voted to lift the ban on civil partnership ceremonies in churches and other religious premises last night.

Full story: The Times

Report highlights cost of Laming recommendations

Fully implementing just one of Lord Laming’s 58 recommendations for improving child protection could cost councils £250m a year and require 6,300 more social workers, according to new research.

Full story: Local Government Chronicle

Cameron tries to woo voters with marriage proposal

David Cameron has propelled marriage to the centre of the election campaign after surprising the Tory party faithful with a promise to spell out his flagship policy before polling day

Full story: The Times