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The definition of those who could be subject to a parenting order has been broadened in an executive amendment to the Anti-social Behaviour Bill, writes Maggie Wood.

The amendment was passed in order to increase the scope of parenting orders which will now include any "relevant" person who ordinarily "has charge of or control of a child". This will include unmarried fathers and step-parents.

Prior to this amendment  only those with "parental responsibilities" could be made subject to a parenting order, which by law is defined under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

This automatically applied to mothers, fathers who are or were married to the mother and to any individual who had sought to apply for parental responsibilities through the court.

Mary Mulligan, deputy communities minister said that it was right that those with parental responsibilities could potentially be made subject to a Parenting Order.

She added however: “There are others who we believe should be [covered] but are excluded; unmarried fathers would not be subject to Parenting Orders unless they have gone through the cumbersome process of applying for parental responsibilities.”

As a result, the amendment to the bill will now substitute “relevant person” and will include unmarried fathers or step fathers who “could be held to account for deficient parenting in the same way as those with formal parental responsibilities.”