Families And Househols Legislation

Question 1

1937 Divorce Reform Act

Answer 1

The law widened the grounds to include: cruelty, desertion and insanity

Question 2

1949 Legal Aid and Advice Act

Answer 2

This provided free legal and paid solicitor’s fees for those who could not afford them

Question 3

1984 Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act

Answer 3

This reduced the period a couple had to be married from 3 to 1 years before they could petition for divorce

Question 4

1996 Family Law Act

Answer 4

• This was designed to make divorce a more carefully considered decision and reduce conflict in proceedings.
• It encouraged couples to seek mediation but allowed divorce by agreement, after a period if reflection (9 months, 15 if children involved)
• if also constructed the ‘no-fault’ divorce

Question 5

2004 Civil Partnership Act

Answer 5

This allowed the legal dissolution of a civil partnership on the same grounds as marriage- irretrievable breakdown. Same sex couples had the same legal rights

Question 6

2007 Appeal Court Ruling

Answer 6

In divorce settlements, the principle of equality was to apply- so the starting point is a 50-50 split of all assets, including salaries and pension rights

Question 7

2014 Same Sex Marriage Act

Answer 7

As same-sex marriages became legal, the same grounds for divorce would apply to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples

Question 8

In 2010, The Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge …

Answer 8

-conducted interviews for Stonewall with 82 kids and young people who have lesbian, gay or bisexual parents to learn about their experiences

Question 9

New labour policies on the Family:

New deal 1998

Answer 9

Designed to help and assist single parents to return to work if they desire to do so

Question 10

New labour policies on the Family:

Working Families Tax Credit

Answer 10

Designed for lower income families to help them to work. This allowed parents to claim TAX RELIEF against a proportion of their childcare costs

Question 11

New labour policies on the Family:

More generous maternity leave and pay and paternity leave

Answer 11

This sent a clear message of acceptance and support that both parents are likely to work and a recognition of the increased role of father’s in their kid’s lives

Question 12

New labour policies on the Family:

The Civil Partnership Act 2004

Answer 12

Same sex couples had the same rights as married couples

Question 13

Coalition policies on Families:

The Legal Aid Budget …

Answer 13

-was cut substantially: meaning that some vulnerable groups, such as woman would be unable to access legal advice if they are experiencing domestic violence

Question 14

Coalition policies on Families:

Child benefit …

Answer 14

Became means tested: what had been a universal benefit for all parents was cut for people earning above a certain threshold

Question 15

Coalition policies on Families:

The reintroduction of the Married Couples Tax Allowance

Answer 15

Cut by New Labour, this policy clearly indicates a preference and adds on incentive for marriage over cohabitation

Question 16

Conservative policies on the family:

1986 Married Couples Tax Allowance

Answer 16

This was a tax incentive designed to encourage marriage and discourage cohabitation. Married couples were entitled to a tax relief

Question 17

Conservative policies on the family:

1988 Benefit Cuts

Answer 17

Single parent benefits were reduced to discourage alternative family structures. Benefits were withdrawn for 16-18 year olds who the government regarded as ‘neets’

Question 18

Conservative policies on the family:

1993 Child Support Agency

Answer 18

This was set to force absent parents (mostly fathers) to take financial responsibility for their kids by paying maintenance for them