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International Parental Child Abduction — [Dr Andrew Murrison in the Chair]
28 April 2026
Lead MP
Rachel Gilmour
Tiverton and Minehead
Lib Dem
Responding Minister
Hamish Falconer
Tags
Crime & Law Enforcement
Word Count: 7128
Other Contributors: 3
At a Glance
Rachel Gilmour raised concerns about international parental child abduction — [dr andrew murrison in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Minister should provide support for victims, statistics on repatriation from Poland, and ensure that maintenance orders do not penalize left-behind parents in cases involving abduction. The Government must also reflect on the impact of Brexit on how EU jurisdictions handle such cases and consider establishing a dedicated taskforce to address these issues.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
More than 500 children are abducted from the UK annually, with families losing over half a century in lost years of contact. The Hague Convention is often breached due to delays and inconsistent application of its principles at appellate levels. Poland appears particularly problematic, with incompetence or deliberate obstruction by authorities hindering enforcement.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon expressed concern about the wrongful rem [3D [K removal of children from their homes and families, highlighting a gap in UK [2D [K UK law where retaining a child abroad after a permitted holiday is not trea [4D [K treated as seriously as abduction. He cited an example involving a mother f [1D [K from Northern Ireland whose son was taken by his father to Lebanon during a [1D [K a holiday, illustrating how difficult it can be to locate the child under s [1D [K such circumstances.
Lisa Smart
Lib Dem
Hazel Grove
She highlighted the challenges faced by families due [3D [K due to the outdated 1980 Hague convention, noting cases where mothers fled [K violence and were treated as abductors. She called for a review of disparit [8D [K disparities between Scotland and the rest of the UK in providing support to [2D [K to parents whose children are wrongfully removed.
Wendy Morton
Con
Aldridge-Brownhills
Cases of international parental child abduction are [K deeply distressing, financially draining for parents and often unsuccessful [12D [K unsuccessful in securing the safe return of children. The number of cases h [1D [K has risen from 272 in 2003-04 to 580 in 2012-13, potentially exceeding 1,00 [4D [K 1,000 annually today. Wendy Morton highlighted a specific case involving Mr [2D [K Mr Tom Toolan whose daughter was abducted to Poland in 2018 despite court o [1D [K orders prohibiting her removal from the UK. He has incurred legal costs of [K over £160,000 and his ordeal continues after eight years.
Government Response
Hamish Falconer
Government Response
The Minister highlighted the Government's commitment to addressing international parental child abduction, noting that decisions on return rest with courts in the country where the child is located. He mentioned clear measures for prevention and support provided by Reunite International. The UK works closely with authorities seeking a return for parents under the 1980 Hague convention. The Minister reported efforts with Poland to improve enforcement, including joint workshops hosted with Polish and UK authorities. Additionally, he addressed concerns around domestic abuse cases and commissioned research into how the convention operates in these instances.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.