Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 19
19
Deferred
Set out plans for providing additional super-courtrooms to enhance court capacity.
Recommendation
The Committee welcomes the creation of super-courtrooms and commends HMCTS for their work in getting them up and running during the pandemic. The Government should set out how many more super-courtrooms will be provided by
Government Response Summary
The government did not address the recommendation to set out how many more super-courtrooms will be provided. Instead, it detailed cross-departmental work and funding initiatives aimed at supporting separating couples and children within the family justice system.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The Government agrees that strong inter-departmental working is crucial to effectively supporting separating couples and their children. The Ministers for Family Justice (MoJ) and Children and Families (DFE) jointly chair the Family Justice Board, which regularly meets to discuss, develop and ensure the implementation of cross-system reforms within the family justice system. The Board is also attended by key operational agencies and the President of the Family Division attends as an observer. We are also working closely across departments to ensure that earlier support and intervention is available for separating couples and their children. In the recent spending review, the Chancellor announced £82 million for a network of Family Hubs in 75 local authorities to integrate family services and strengthen relationship support. The Ministry of Justice is working closely with DfE to ensure that Family Hubs signpost separating parents to out of court options such as mediation and to explore other ways that the family hubs network can improve support for separating parents/carers and their children. DWP operates a Reducing Parental Conflict scheme that supports parents to reduce conflict that is below the threshold of domestic abuse. DWP have published reports on the programme and some interventions show promising results, particularly in embedding parental conflict support into wider services for children. The programme has been delivered through local authorities and the Ministry of Justice will be working with DWP regional integration leads to raise awareness of mediation vouchers and other support for parents/carers and children such as mediation and parenting courses.