Grandparents As Parents

In January 2008 the Grandparents’ Rights petition closed on the Prime Minister’s website. The Government’s response to the petition is unsatisfactory and ignores the fundamental failures that exist within the Courts and welfare services and how this affects children and families.   
We continue to ask that:
·         grandparents to have the automatic right to inclusion in care and adoption proceedings via an amendment to the Adoption and Children Act 2002;
·         grandparents be granted parental responsibility for children following the parents’ death;
·         there be an amendment to the Adoption and Children Act 2002;
·         the leave requirement be abolished for the extended family when applying for orders under the Children Act 1989.

Government Response: ‘Thank you for your e-petition about introducing legislation to grant legal rights to grandparents with respect to their grandchildren. The Government recognises and values the support provided by many grandparents to their grandchildren.  Our Care Matters White Paper and the Children and Young Persons Bill include a range of measures intended to provide a more visible and strengthened framework for supporting relatives caring for children who can't be looked after by their parents.
read more on   http://www.thecustodyminefield.com/21.html