Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the need for reforms in the family justice system to better support families and children.
What steps he is taking to reform the family courts?
The Government are reforming the family justice system to better support families and children. We are rolling out the child-focused model nationally, developing a cross-system family justice strategy and legislating for new child safety measures that ensure that child welfare continues to be prioritised.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific steps being taken were not detailed beyond general statements of reform.
Rolling Out The Child-Focused Model Nationally [10D [K Nationally
Developing A Cross-System Family Justice Strategy
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the need for stronger safeguarding measures in family courts to protect survivors from re-traumatisation through mechanisms such as child contact arrangements.
I am grateful for that response. My constituent Olivia is an extraordinary survivor of sustained coercive control involving psychological, physical and financial abuse—a set of abuses that continued even after her separation from her partner, because of child contact arrangements, which left her in persistent fear for both her safety and that of her child. What steps are the Secretary of State and his Front Bench team taking to strengthen safeguarding in the family courts and to protect domestic abuse survivors from re-traumatisation, particularly when perpetrators use mechanisms such as child contact arrangements to continue their abuse?
The whole House will have sympathy for Olivia. The family courts must never be a place for perpetrators to continue their abuse. Repealing the presumption of parental involvement will ensure that children's wellbeing continues to be the court's primary focus when considering contact. Under the child-focused model, independent domestic violence advisers can provide victims with specialist family support.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific steps being taken were not detailed beyond general statements of intent.
Repealing The Presumption Of Parental Involvem [8D [K Involvement
Under The Child-Focused Model
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the uncertainty created by the renewal of the family mediation voucher scheme each year, which affects families' ability to plan for their future.
One of the successes of the family justice system is the family mediation voucher scheme. Two thirds of families who use the scheme avoid going to court, which takes a lot of pressure off the family courts. It started in 2021 and gets renewed every year, often at the end of the year or even when the next year has started, which creates huge uncertainty. Will the Secretary of State just say that he will make the scheme permanent from now on?
I can confirm to the Chair of the Select Committee that the family mediation voucher scheme will be extended for another year, giving separating families £500 towards their mediation costs to help them solve issues with childcare and finances without going to court. I will look carefully at the permanency of those arrangements.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific commitment to make the scheme permanent was not provided.
Will Be Extended For Another Year
Looking C [1D [K Carefully At The Permanency
Response accuracy