Commons Sense

Hansard-based summaries and metrics

Family Justice System Reform 2022-05-24

2022-05-24

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TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Edward Timpson
▸ Context
No specific background or context provided other than a general concern for reforming the system to reduce conflict and protect children.
What steps his Department is taking to reform the family justice system. The question highlights efforts to reduce demand in private family courts, invest in mediation schemes, and implement less adversarial ways of hearing cases.
Tom Pursglove
The government is committed to reducing conflict and protecting children and victims through investment in mediation schemes, piloting less adversarial methods, and issuing over 8,000 vouchers. There are domestic abuse or safeguarding concerns in half of private family cases; the Government will support parents to resolve issues outside court.
▸ Assessment & feedback
The specific ask was not a direct request for information but rather an inquiry about steps being taken, and the answer provided general commitments without concrete details.
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Edward Timpson
▸ Context
The family justice system remains under pressure, and there is recognition that additional funding for CAFCASS has been allocated. During the questioner's tenure as CAFCASS chair, it was established that one in four private law children's court cases could be avoided with pre-proceedings work.
Is the Department also looking at reducing unnecessary cases going into family courts by conducting pre-proceedings work?
Tom Pursglove
The Government supports resolving issues earlier and outside court for cases not involving domestic abuse or safeguarding concerns. The Department is considering making mediation compulsory for those cases that can be resolved outside of court. A meeting to discuss ideas in more detail has been suggested.
▸ Assessment & feedback
The specific ask was about reducing unnecessary cases through pre-proceedings work, and while the answer acknowledges supporting parents to resolve issues earlier, it did not directly address considering pre-proceedings work specifically.
Response accuracy