7.Part 1 of the Act adds to the powers of the courts when dealing with cases involving contact with children.
8.During the proceedings a court may, even if it does not make a contact order, direct a party to take part in an activity that would promote contact with a child. It may make similar provision by means of a condition in a contact order.
9.The courts' powers in cases involving breach of a contact order are increased by adding:
a power to make an enforcement order imposing an unpaid work requirement;
a power to order one person to pay compensation to another for a financial loss caused by a breach.
10.These powers are in addition to their powers as to contempt and their ability to alter the residence and contact arrangements as regards a child.
11.Part 1 also includes provision to reform the courts' existing power to make family assistance orders and imposes a duty on the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) and Welsh family proceedings officers to carry out risk assessments where they suspect a child is at risk of harm.
12.Part 2 makes provision for the Secretary of State to suspend intercountry adoptions from a country if he has concerns about the practices there in connection with the adoption of children.
13.It also makes other provision for the following other matters relating to intercountry adoption:
providing a power for the Secretary of State and the National Assembly for Wales to charge a fee to adopters or prospective adopters for services provided in relation to intercountry adoptions;
preventing an overlap of functions by local authorities where a child is brought into the country for the purposes of intercountry adoption; and
amending section 83 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 to make it harder for intercountry adopters to circumvent restrictions on bringing children into the UK.
14.Part 3 makes a number of miscellaneous and final provisions, including provision about the operation of orders and regulations made under the Act, and provision about commencement and extent.
15.It also provides for Schedules 2 and 3, which make provision for minor and consequential amendments and repeals, to have effect.