Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Family Courts: Delays

Tuesday 8 February 2022 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial funds of 0.25 billion were invested in the last financial year to support court recovery, including 76 million for family and civil courts capacity.
  • A Nightingale court was established at Petty France with four additional courts.
  • The Government is collaborating with the judiciary to boost sitting capacity across the east London court cluster.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Stephen Timms Lab East Ham
Justice & Courts Children & Families
Context

The delays in the east London family court are particularly severe, with waiting times stretching to seven months and promises of improvements not materialising.

Question

What steps he is taking to reduce delays in the family courts. In East London, families face the longest waits for hearings at seven months despite previous assurances about transfers to ease pressures. When will we see progress?

Answer from James Cartlidge

We invested £0.25 billion in the last financial year to support recovery, including £76 million for family and civil courts capacity, with a further £324 million over three years. A Nightingale court was created at Petty France with four additional courts, and more are being used at Stratford magistrates and Royal Court of Justice.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific timeline or concrete action for east London court improvements not provided

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Q2 Stephen Timms Lab East Ham
Justice & Courts Children & Families
Context

Families in East London are experiencing significant delays with hearings taking seven months to be scheduled. Previous promises for improvements have not been realised.

Question

In east London the position is getting worse. The delays in the east London family court are the worst in London. Several months ago we were told that parts of east London would be transferred to other courts to ease the problems, but nothing seems to have happened so far and families are now having to wait a minimum of seven months for a hearing. When will we finally see some progress on this? Do we not need additional court capacity?

Answer from James Cartlidge

The Government is working closely with the judiciary to increase sitting capacity across the east London cluster. A Nightingale court was created at Petty France, and additional courts are being utilised at Stratford magistrates and Royal Court of Justice.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific timeline or concrete actions for immediate progress in East London

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