Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Children in Care: Family Courts

Tuesday 26 March 2024 · 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

  • Children who have been removed from their parents are waiting an average of 46 weeks for a final decision in family court proceedings.
  • The Government has invested additional funding to address the backlog and delays in family courts, including an extra 55 million announced in the Budget.
  • The public law outline sets maximum numbers of hearings and time limits to ensure effective and timely court proceedings.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tonia Antoniazzi Lab Gower
Mental Health Children & Families
Context

Data from Cafcass shows children removed from their parents by the state wait an average of 46 weeks for a final decision on where they will live. This delay can have significant mental health impacts and affect access to support services.

Question

Children who have been removed from their parents are waiting an average of 46 weeks to get a final decision, which is heartbreaking. What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of extended family proceedings on the mental health of children involved and their ability to access support and child and adolescent mental health services?

Answer from Mike Freer

The hon. Lady raises a serious point about the impact on the child and wider family. We have invested in capacity with more money for Cafcass, judges and recorders, and more sitting days to ensure hearings are effective. The public law outline sets maximum number of hearings and time limits to ensure proceedings are heard on time.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a specific assessment of the impact on mental health or access to support services

How: We Have Invested In Capacity

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Q2 Tonia Antoniazzi Lab Gower
Children & Families
Context

Children removed from their parents face an average wait of 46 weeks for a final decision. In 13 out of 42 designated family judge areas, the wait exceeds twice the statutory target of 26 weeks.

Question

The Government are still far from solving the crisis in family courts with waits exceeding statutory targets and new cases increasing faster than disposals. Do the Government have any concern or compassion for vulnerable children being let down by these delays?

Answer from Mike Freer

This Government are spending more money to attract more judges and recorders, maximise sitting days, invest in public law outline and private family law mediation. An additional £55 million was announced in the Budget to address productivity and backlogs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly answer whether the Government has concern or compassion for vulnerable children facing delays

How: We Are Spending More Money, Every Lever Is Being Pulled

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Q3 Alex Cunningham Lab
Democracy & Elections Children & Families
Context

Children removed from their parents face an average wait of 46 weeks for a final decision. In 13 out of 42 designated family judge areas, the wait exceeds twice the statutory target of 26 weeks.

Question

Despite the response given to my hon. Friend the Member for Gower (Tonia Antoniazzi), the Government are still far from solving the crisis in family courts with waits exceeding statutory targets and new cases increasing faster than disposals. Do the Government have any concern or compassion for some of the most vulnerable children who are being let down?

Answer from Mike Freer

This Government are spending more money to attract more judges and recorders, maximise sitting days, invest in public law outline and private family law as well as mediation. An additional £55 million was announced in the Budget to address productivity and backlogs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly answer whether the Government has concern or compassion for vulnerable children facing delays

How: We Are Spending More Money, Every Lever Is Being Pulled

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