BILL and Angela Tyson have a six-year-old son who has a lot of contact

with Bill's parents. Angela and Bill split up, with Tom living with his

mother and Bill having voluntary access. During this time it becomes

obvious that Bill is taking Tom to his grandparents every time he has

access and they are poisoning him against his mother. Angela stops Bill

taking Tom out to his grandmother's house. How is this situation to be

resolved?

There are two courses of action, mediation through a trained mediator

and court, in both of which grandparents can be involved either directly

or on the sidelines.

This common scenario is fully explained and alternatives for resolving

it fully explored in Grandparents and the Law in Scotland by Elaine

Sutherland, senior lecturer in private law at the University of Glasgow,

which was published recently in conjunction with Age Concern Scotland.

Miss Sutherland says that she wrote this small volume as she was

''very aware that lots of grandparents weren't aware of their rights as

grandparents, about their duties, and what help the law would be with

any problems they were having''. As the book developed Miss Sutherland

said that she became aware that being a grandparent also had

responsibilities.

Miss Sutherland says: ''The grandparents book had to be written

because we don't live in an ideal world. Families experience breakdown

and sadness and in the midst of it all family members may lose

contact.''

When a grandchild is taken into temporary or permanent care Miss

Sutherland emphasises that approaches from the grandparents are welcomed

by the Reporter to the Children's Panel or the social work department.

Briefly the function of the Children's Panel is to deal with children

over the age of eight who have committed an offence or those who are at

risk from physical or sexual abuse.

Another issue dealt with by the book is the upsetting one of what

grandparents can do when they suspect neglect of their grandchildren.

''This is a difficult issue for grandparents. Obviously they don't want

to get their own children into trouble and they are probably reluctant

to report this to the police which is one response. Other ways that

grandparents can act is to bring the situation to the attention of the

Reporter to the Children's Panel or the social work departments,'' said

Elaine Sutherland, emphasising that grandparents should realise that

neglect can have serious consequences and may even result in the death

of the child.

Other chapters of the book deal with grandparents' rights when a child

is living with both parents or one parent and a step-parent. The

heart-rending situation of adoption is also dealt with. Miss Sutherland

says that nowadays, especially with children aged above 12, contact with

the birth family is more likely to occur. This may be changed this year

by the report of the Scottish Office that is due.

''My own grandfather, to whom I dedicate this book, was a man of great

wisdom who could always see a child's point of view. Anyone who has had

a grandparent early in life can tell you about this wonderful experience

from these people who have that little piece of time and experience and

perhaps a little more patience to meet a child's needs because they're

not dealing with the day-to-day child care. It is important to realise

the pleasure that grandchildren can derive from grandparents, not

forgetting the enormous pleasure that grandparents derive from their

grandchildren as well,'' said Miss Sutherland.

Maureen O'Neill, director of Age Concern Scotland, said that the

rights and emotional needs of grandparents are often taken for granted

or ignored. This book makes their position clear and is well illustrated

and easy to read from.

* Grandparents and the Law in Scotland is 82 pages and is available

from Age Concern Scotland, 54A Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 3PT, price

#5.95, including postage and packing, or at all good bookshops.