Formation
The APPG was formed in March 2023. It currently has 40 members from both houses of parliament. A membership list is here. Baroness Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, a former President of the Family Division of the High Court, is willing to remain an officer and is in support of our mission.
Advisory Panel
The APPG is advised by a wide range of experts, some of whom can be found here.
Inquiry and report
We held an extensive inquiry (2023-24), ‘Better outcomes for the children of separating parents’. The evidence sessions can be found on our YouTube channel and the report can be found here.
Priorities
The report has a long list of proposals for improving the family separation process. However, a seminar in June, seeking Common Ground, we identified two priorities:
1. Central advice and support: a local place (replicated online) where parents can go for advice and support as soon as they decide to separate.
2. A central agency (or cross-department minister) within government which worked cross-departmentally that would be responsible for the welfare of children of separating parents from the point where they separate to when arrangements are resolved.
A rationale for these is available on request.
Restarting the APPG, September 2024
The new rules (March 2024) require 4 officers, two of whom need to be MPs and one of them to be the chair. We currently have offers of vice-chair/officer from Baroness Butler-Sloss and Luke Myer MP. When we have identified a chair and one more officer, we can then organise an Inaugural meeting and restart.