The Government has not undertaken an assessment of the potential merits of giving grandparents a statutory right of access to their grandchildren. We understand that grandparents often play an important role in children\u2019s lives and can provide stability in families.\u202fHowever, when making any decision about a child\u2019s upbringing the court\u2019s paramount consideration will always be the welfare of the child, based on the individual facts of the case, no adult has a statutory right to access.<\/p>
<\/p>
Grandparents can seek leave of the court to apply for \u2018spending time with\u2019 or \u2018living with\u2019 arrangements through a child arrangements order. A grandparent may can also seek permission to apply for a Special Guardianship Order, where they would be responsible for looking after the child. This is available in both private and public law proceedings and will be considered as one of the options for a child in care proceedings.\u202f Special Guardianship Orders in private law proceedings were brought into the scope of legal aid on 1 May 2023.<\/p>
<\/p>
We are also committed to supporting families to resolve private family law matters outside of court where appropriate to ensure that matters are resolved earlier, before conflict becomes entrenched.<\/p>
In March 2021 the Government launched the Mediation Voucher Scheme which provides £500 towards the cost of mediation. As of April 2023, the scheme has helped over 17,000 families, including grandparents to access mediation and resolve their issues away from the family court.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4004", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mike Freer"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Finchley and Golders Green"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mike Freer"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-05-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-05-10T19:08:29.663Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-05-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Child Arrangements Orders: Grandparents"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of giving grandparents a statutory right of access to their grandchildren in certain circumstances.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1438", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Durham"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Kevan Jones"} ], "uin" : "183665"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1608010", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1608010/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3969", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Damian Hinds"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Hampshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Damian Hinds"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-03-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "174236"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-03-30T12:54:19.03Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-03-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Community Orders: Durham"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of hours of community payback are yet to be served in the Durham Constabulary area.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1438", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Durham"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Kevan Jones"} ], "uin" : "174235"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1608012", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1608012/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3969", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Damian Hinds"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Hampshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Damian Hinds"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-03-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "174235"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-03-30T12:54:19.077Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-03-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Community Orders: Durham"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been sentenced to community payback but are yet to serve that sentence in the Durham Constabulary area.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1438", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Durham"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Kevan Jones"} ], "uin" : "174236"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1461388", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1461388/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We have no plans to review the presumption, as it has wide application and is rebuttable if there is evidence to the contrary.<\/p>
<\/p>
Nonetheless, given the concerns raised about Post Office Ltd\u2019s Horizon IT system, the Government wants to be fully assured that there is a public summary of the failings associated with the system and that lessons are learnt from this dispute. That is why the Inquiry into the Post Office Horizon IT dispute was converted into a statutory inquiry with effect from 1 June 2021, with new powers to require the production of evidence and documents. The full, updated Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Inquiry are available on the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry 2020 ToR page<\/a>, and on gov.uk<\/a>.<\/p> <\/p> The Inquiry will aim to submit its findings to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in Autumn 2022. The final report will be published by the Secretary of State and the government will respond in due course.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4519", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for James Cartlidge"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Suffolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "James Cartlidge"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-05-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-05-17T16:58:27.587Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-05-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Admissibility of Evidence: Computers"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has plans to assess the legal presumption of reliability of computer evidence.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1438", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Durham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Kevan Jones"}
], "uin" : "79"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1301814", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1301814/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " We recognise that accommodation is a key priority as it is often the first step in an individual\u2019s resettlement journey. We continue to work with councils and charities to secure suitable accommodation, while investigating long-term solutions to prevent homelessness and help offenders turn their backs on crime.<\/p> <\/p> We provided data on accommodation on release last summer given the uncertainty around early releases from prison and other factors during the first Covid peak, and the public interest in this area at the time. In response to Written Parliamentary Question 76656 on 28 July 2020 we supplied data ahead of the official statistics publication schedule.<\/p> <\/p> We are now reverting back to publishing this data in a more orderly and transparent way in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics, which allows sufficient time for analysts to fully assure and quality check the data. Future statistics on accommodation on release from will be published in due course, in line with the official statistics publication schedule. The next release will be published as part of the Community Performance Series. Previously the release schedule for the series had been quarterly, it has now moved to an annual cycle, with the 29 July 2021 edition reporting full-year outcomes for 2020/21.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4481", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alex Chalk"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cheltenham"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alex Chalk"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-03-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-03-16T17:54:49.083Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2021-03-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Prisoners' Release: Housing"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of prisoners are released into (a) homelessness, (b) temporary accommodation and (c) hostels in the most recent period for which figures are available.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1438", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Durham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Kevan Jones"}
], "uin" : "167164"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1288218", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1288218/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for our independent courts. When deciding what sentence to impose, within the maximum available for the offence, the courts take into account the circumstances of the offence and any aggravating and mitigating factors. The courts are also required to follow any relevant sentencing guidelines, developed by the independent Sentencing Council. The guidelines assist judges and magistrates in deciding the appropriate sentence for a criminal offence, and help to ensure that sentences are consistent and proportionate.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4503", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Philp"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Croydon South"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Philp"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-03-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-03-02T14:48:02.747Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2021-02-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Fraud and Theft: Sentencing"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the proportionality of sentences for people committing theft or misappropriating funds from bank accounts.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1438", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Durham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Kevan Jones"}
], "uin" : "156276"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1188227", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1188227/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Ministry of Justice intends to publish statistics on prisoners who have tested positive for COVID-19 on an ongoing basis during the coming months.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4517", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lucy Frazer"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South East Cambridgeshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lucy Frazer"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-04-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-04-28T16:57:23.353Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-04-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Prisoners: Coronavirus"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of prisoners who have tested positive for covid-19 to date are (a) male, (b) female and (c) serving sentences under six months.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1438", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Durham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Kevan Jones"}
], "uin" : "37477"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1185360", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1185360/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), is an independent body, established by the Criminal Appeals Act 1995, to investigate possible miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.<\/p> <\/p> No officials from the Ministry of Justice are members of the CCRC.<\/p> <\/p> All CCRC Commissioners are independent from Government and the Civil Service.<\/p> <\/p> Commissioners are appointed by Her Majesty the Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Appointments to the CCRC are made in line with the principles of the Cabinet Office\u2019s Governance Code on Public Appointments and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4481", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alex Chalk"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cheltenham"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alex Chalk"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-03-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-03-19T16:39:54.953Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-03-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Staff"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which officials of his Department sit on his Department's Complex Cases Review Team.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1438", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Durham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Kevan Jones"}
], "uin" : "29839"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1185361", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1185361/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Claims for compensation for a miscarriage of justice under section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 are dealt with by the Ministry of Justice Application Service. In the last 12 months, the department paid out £10,000 in compensation.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4481", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alex Chalk"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cheltenham"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alex Chalk"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-03-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-03-19T16:57:35.68Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-03-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Compensation"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much money has been disbursed from the public public purse in compensation by his Department's Complex Cases Review Team in the last 12 months.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1438", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Durham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Kevan Jones"}
], "uin" : "29840"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1182178", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1182178/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "