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170379

	registered interest
	date	15/12/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Child Rearing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effects of Parental Alienation Syndrome on families; and what plans he has to issue guidance or being forward legislative proposals to deal with those effects.
	tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
	tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
	uin	218667
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2014 answer text <p>The family courts consider the facts of each case with the welfare of the child as paramount. Parental Alienation Syndrome is not recognised as a 'syndrome' by many professionals in this country<strong>. </strong> The courts do, however, recognise that some resident parents are responsible for alienating their children from non-resident parents and can take this into account when considering their decisions.</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes grouped question UIN 218665 question first answered 18/12/2014 15:52:51 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

170512

	registered interest
	date	15/12/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Child Rearing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effects of Parental Alienation Syndrome on family breakdowns; and what plans he has to issue guidance or bring forward legislative proposals to deal with that syndrome and its effects.
	tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
	tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
	uin	218665
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The family courts consider the facts of each case with the welfare of the child as paramount. Parental Alienation Syndrome is not recognised as a 'syndrome' by many professionals in this country<strong>. </strong> The courts do, however, recognise that some resident parents are responsible for alienating their children from non-resident parents and can take this into account when considering their decisions.</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes grouped question UIN 218667 question first answered 18/12/2014 15:52:51 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

224030

	registered interest
	date	26/02/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Mediation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to promote mediation in the resolution of family and other legal disputes; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Thirsk and Malton
	tabling member printed	Miss Anne McIntosh
	uin	225655
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2015 answer text <p /> <p>In order to promote the use of mediation as a first step towards dispute resolution for separating families, as of 22 April 2014 it is now a legislative requirement that anyone considering applying to court for an order about their children or finances is legally obliged to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) first, unless specific exemptions apply (for example domestic violence).</p><p> </p><p>Following this legislative change, attendance at MIAMs increased in consecutive quarters, with 4,023 couples attending a MIAM between Jul-Sept 2014, which is a rise of 11% from the previous quarter and 20% from Jul-Sept 2013. Mediation starts are also rising, with an increase from 1783 in the period Apr-Jun 2014 to 1896 in the period Jul-Sep 2014.</p><p> </p><p>We know that there is a perception by some people that legal aid no longer covers mediation or legal help for mediation. This is not the case, and it is vital that this message is communicated as effectively as possible. Legal aid remains available for family mediation and for legal advice to support family mediation. In addition, as of 3 November 2014, the first single session of mediation is publicly funded in all cases provided one of the people involved is already legally aided. In these cases, both participants will be funded for the MIAM and for the first session of mediation. The combination of the compulsory MIAM and free first mediation session will help to introduce more people to the benefits of mediation, and away from the courts.</p><p> </p><p>A communications campaign - ‘First Stop: Family Mediation’ - has been launched to promote family mediation, and how to access it, and publicising the availability of legal aid for those who are eligible. The campaign went live on 2 January 2015 and includes online advertising, Google key word searches and Google Display adverts that direct people to the Family Mediation Council website and in particular, the find your local mediator tool. Other initiatives included a sponsored Q&amp;A discussion on Mumsnet as well as a social media campaign and media relations in the consumer media. This has resulted in a 320% increase in visitors to the FMC website in the first two months of the year as of 28 February this year compared to the last six months of 2014. The campaign runs until 20 March.</p><p> </p><p>To support the mediation profession, with MoJ assistance and guidance, the Family Mediation Council introduced a new Professional Standards Framework from 1 January 2015. This will provide the basis for a much needed consistent approach in how mediators should operate. It will allow the general public - the clients of mediation – to be confident in the service that is being provided; they will know what it means to go to mediation; they will understand that mediators are to be trusted as properly trained and accredited practitioners; and most importantly, they will know they are protected by a properly regulated profession.</p><p> </p><p>More widely, the Government actively encourages mediation in civil litigation cases through its support of the small-claims mediation service, and the mediation referral website. Signposting literature in the Courts, various provisions in the Civil Procedure Rules and the numerous pre-action protocols promote this. In addition the MoJ has received the Civil Justice Council’s report on Online Dispute Resolution for Low Value Civil Claims, and will respond in due course.</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 05/03/2015 15:36:48 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

155977

	registered interest
	date	17/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Child Abuse in North Wales Judicial Inquiry Review
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he expects that the Macur Review will report.
	tabling member constituency	Wrexham
	tabling member printed	Ian Lucas
	uin	214637
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Lady Justice Macur’s Review is entirely independent of Government and its timetable is a matter for her . She is on record as saying that her Review would be thorough and that she would not draw any conclusions until she had considered all the evidence. I am, however, confident that good progress has been made and the Review is nearing its completion. The Government looks forward to receiving Lady Justice Macur’s Report next year.</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 20/11/2014 17:42:19 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	1470 label Biography information for Ian C. Lucas

156035

	registered interest
	date	17/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Family Law
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average length of time was for private family law cases to be resolved in court where at least one party is a litigant in person in (a) the UK and (b) Wales in each year from 2009 to 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Newport East
	tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
	uin	214606
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Parties with no legal representation are not a new phenomenon in our courts. We have taken steps to help people who either want or have to represent themselves in court. The new package of support announced on 23 October is aimed at keeping disputes away from court, while those who end up in court will be provided with better support.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice has responsibility for courts in England and Wales only and the available information is provided in the table below. We do not hold this information prior to 2011 as the case management system “FamilyMan” was not used by all courts until the end of 2010. 2014 data is available up to June, and the full year figures for 2014 will not be published until late March 2015.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Average timeliness </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>England and Wales</p></td><td><p>Wales only</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p><strong>14.6</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>19.4</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p><strong>13.5</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>17.2</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p><strong>13.6</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>17.0</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014[1]</p></td><td><p><strong>15.8</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>19.1</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Notes</p><p>Self-representation is determined by the field “legal representation” in FamilyMan being left blank. Therefore, this is only a proxy measure and parties without a recorded representative are not necessarily self-representing litigants in person.</p><br /><p>[1] To end of June 2014</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 20/11/2014 17:51:08 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

156043

	registered interest
	date	17/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Powers of Attorney
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he will take to raise awareness among public bodies, companies and communities of the powers that may be exercised under a lasting power of attorney.
	tabling member constituency	Watford
	tabling member printed	Richard Harrington
	uin	214535
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) plans to run a communications campaign early next year to raise awareness amongst the public of future life planning options and encourage them to think about making provision for possible loss of mental capacity.</p><p> </p><p>It will focus on raising awareness of using lasting power(s) of attorney (LPAs), as well as associated issues such as making a will and organ donation.</p><p> </p><p>MoJ is working collaboratively with the Office of the Public Guardian, which is responsible for registering LPAs, other government departments and relevant partner organisations to deliver this campaign.</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 20/11/2014 17:54:12 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	4068 label Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford

156045

	registered interest
	date	17/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Ministry of Justice: Written Questions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he expects to answer Questions 210136, 210138 and 210139, tabled by the hon. Member for Bristol North West on 13 October 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol North West
	tabling member printed	Charlotte Leslie
	uin	214512
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2014 answer text <p>The three questions were answered on the 18<sup>th</sup> November 2014 and the answers published on http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 20/11/2014 17:38:12 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	3933 label Biography information for Charlotte Leslie

156050

	registered interest
	date	17/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Courts
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2014 to Question 213724, how many individual courts will receive additional funding; and what proportion such courts will form of the total court estate.
	tabling member constituency	Hammersmith
	tabling member printed	Mr Andy Slaughter
	uin	214815
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The new package of support announced on 23 October is aimed at keeping disputes away from court, while those who end up in court will be provided with better support. The funding will be used to support a new strategic approach to increasing legal and practical support for litigants in person in the civil and family courts. This will provide direct support in some local courts, and other courts will be able to access national support via email or telephone. The service will begin in selected court centres with the aim of rolling it out across England and Wales.</p><p>This strategy has been developed in partnership with the legal and advice sectors and we are currently working with them on implementation. We hope to be in a position soon to make a decision on which courts will receive direct support as a result of the additional funding.</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 20/11/2014 17:55:33 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	1516 label Biography information for Andy Slaughter

156053

	registered interest
	date	17/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Family Law
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average length of time was for private family law cases to be resolved in court in each year from 2009 to 2014 in (a) the UK and (b) Wales.
	tabling member constituency	Newport East
	tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
	uin	214817
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The Ministry of Justice has responsibility for courts in England and Wales only and the available information is provided in the table below. We do not hold this information prior to 2011 as the case management system “FamilyMan” was not used by all courts until the end of 2010. 2014 data is available up to June, and the full year figures for 2014 will not be published until late March 2015.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td colspan="2"><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Average timeliness - Mean</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>England and Wales</p></td><td><p>Wales only</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p><strong>17.0</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>23.0</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p><strong>15.3</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>20.3</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p><strong>16.1</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>21.1</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014[1]</p></td><td><p><strong>17.9</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>21.7</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>We publish data for the whole of England and Wales in our publication Court Statistics Quarterly, available online, at the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/court-statistics-quarterly" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/court-statistics-quarterly</a></p><p> </p><p>The most recent Court Statistics Quarterly publication tables can be found at this link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/court-statistics-quarterly-april-to-june-2014" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/court-statistics-quarterly-april-to-june-2014</a></p><p> </p><p>The data for July to September 2014 will be published in a new Family Court Statistics publication available on 18 December 2014.</p><br /><p>[1] To end of June 2014</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 20/11/2014 17:54:10 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

156054

	registered interest
	date	17/11/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Mediation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many referrals to mediation were made in private family law in (a) the UK and (b) Wales in each year from 2009 to 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Newport East
	tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
	uin	214818
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2014 answer text <p>Mediation works and we are committed to making sure that more people make use of it rather than go through the confrontational and stressful experience of going to court. Last year we changed the law so that anyone considering a court battle over child or financial matters must consider mediation. We have also introduced more free mediation, where one party is already funded.</p><p>Last year nearly two thirds of couples who attended a single mediation session for a child dispute reached a full agreement. Almost seven out of every ten couples who opted for mediation reached an agreement.</p><p>Millions of pounds of legal aid remain available for family mediation and for legal advice to support family mediation.</p><p> </p><p>The table at Annex A shows the volume of referrals to Mediation in each financial year from 2008/09 to 2013/14, broken down by referral source.</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 20/11/2014 17:32:14 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
	tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden