Family Court Waiting Lists 2022-11-22
2022-11-22
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Significant backlogs in the family court system are affecting families, single parents, and children across the country. The voucher scheme has been established to help reduce private law cases coming into court.
What steps is he taking to reduce the size of waiting lists for family court cases? We know there are significant backlogs impacting families and children; the sooner these cases are heard, the better for everyone involved. What specific measures will be taken to ensure adequate judges and funding?
The family mediation voucher scheme has been established, investing nearly £9 million for over 12,800 vouchers. In July, a regional virtual court pilot was introduced to allow deputy district judges from other regions to sit virtually in London and the south-east, hearing as many cases as possible.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific measures addressing backlogs and ensuring adequate funding were not fully detailed.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Significant family court backlogs are affecting families, single parents, and children; voucher scheme has helped but more needs to be done.
What specific measures does the hon. Friend intend to address family court backlogs? What steps will be taken to ensure adequate funding and judge numbers?
The voucher scheme has been successful with about 65% of families kept out of the court process. Additional publicity for this scheme is intended; virtual courtroom use and recruitment of over 1,000 new judges should also help address capacity issues.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific measures addressing backlogs and ensuring adequate funding were not fully detailed.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Government figures show a family court backlog of over 110,000 cases; Ministry of Justice budget will increase by half the rate of inflation next year, leading to real-term cuts.
With more than 110,000 backlogged cases and a Ministry of Justice budget increasing at half the rate of inflation—resulting in hundreds of millions in real-terms cuts—does the Minister think these and other backlogs will increase or decrease?
Our intention is to reduce backlogs by keeping as many families out of the court system through schemes like the family mediation voucher scheme.
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Assessment & feedback
Assessment on whether backlogs will increase or decrease given current funding was not provided.
Response accuracy