Single parent charity welcomes law commission proposals to give new rights to cohabiting couples

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31/07/07 Single parent charity One Parent Families|Gingerbread today welcomed the Law Commission's proposals for the reform of the law relating to the financial consequences of relationship breakdown.

Commenting on the proposals, Head of Policy and Research Kate Bell said:

"We have long argued that the existing law is complex and is all too often unable to deal fairly with the financial consequences of relationship breakdown. As the Law Commission state, the existing situation often mean that carers, and therefore their children, often suffer hardship when a relationship ends. Most people accept that there should be a fair outcome when a relationship breaks down, particularly where a couple have had children, and most people are surprised that this is not the case. The Law Commission proposals are a step in the right direction."

"Other countries including Scotland have already passed legislation to deal with the issue and we think that legislative change here is long overdue. There has been legislation in place since 1975 (Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975) giving rights to cohabitees on the death of one of them yet at present a woman whose partner left her after twenty years of cohabitation would have no such rights".

"We believe that the Law Commission proposals are right to recognise the economic impact of bringing up children on the primary carer, and the need for the law to be flexible enough to provide a remedy which can be fair to all involved. And we particularly welcome the focus on the welfare of the child."

One Parent Families|Gingerbread is the national organisation campaigning on behalf of the 1.9 million one parent families and 3 million children who live in them today. Free and confidential advice to lone parents is available from the lone parent helpline on 0800 018 5026. Our website is at www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk. We are a member of the campaign to end child poverty.

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