Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Family Court: Waiting Lists

Tuesday 22 November 2022 · 3 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Family mediation voucher scheme established, investing nearly 9 million for over 12,800 vouchers.
  • Regional virtual court pilot introduced in July to allow deputy district judges from other regions to sit virtually.
  • Intention to reduce backlogs through keeping families out of the court system using schemes like the family mediation voucher scheme.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Duncan Baker
Children & Families
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Mike Freer

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures addressing backlogs and ensuring adequate funding were not fully detailed.

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Q2 Duncan Baker
Justice & Courts Children & Families
Context

Significant family court backlogs are affecting families, single parents, and children; voucher scheme has helped but more needs to be done.

Question

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?

Answer from Mike Freer

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures addressing backlogs and ensuring adequate funding were not fully detailed.

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Q3 Andrew Slaughter Lab Hammersmith and Chiswick
Justice & Courts
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Mike Freer

Our intention is to reduce backlogs by keeping as many families out of the court system through schemes like the family mediation voucher scheme.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Assessment on whether backlogs will increase or decrease given current funding was not provided.

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