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Select Committee · Public Accounts Committee

Improving family court services for children

Status: Closed Opened: 6 May 2025 Closed: 15 Dec 2025 5 recommendations 25 conclusions 1 report

In 2023, more than 130,000 children were involved in the family court system. A large part of family courts’ work is dealing with disputes over children, such as deciding which parent a child should live with or whether a child should be taken into care for their protection.. The system relies on input from a …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
45th Report - Improving family court services for children HC 883 12 Sep 2025 30 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
1 Conclusion 45th Report - Improving family court se… Not Addressed

Committee took evidence on improving family court services for children.

On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Department for Education (DfE), HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) on improving family court services for children.1

Government response. The government's response outlines plans for improving timeliness in family justice, developing a cross-system strategy by April 2026, and reviewing performance indicators, but this does not address the content of the committee's introductory conclusion.
HM Treasury
27 Conclusion 45th Report - Improving family court se… Not Addressed

Pathfinder scheme pilots show improved experiences for domestic abuse victims and reduced case durations.

MoJ told us that it has been piloting a new model for private law through the ‘Pathfinder’ scheme, the aim of which was to improve experience for victims of domestic abuse by taking a whole system approach to improving services. Key features of the initiative include: 58 Q 39 59 …

Government response. The government response contains no relevant content.
HM Treasury
30 Conclusion 45th Report - Improving family court se… Not Addressed

Lack of a comprehensive plan for Pathfinder model's wider adoption by MoJ

MoJ has not set out a plan for its wider adoption, including assessment of what funding will be required, how it is going to work with partners to ensure that resources are available and realigned, or setting a timetable. MoJ told us that it would now develop a plan for …

Government response. The government response contains no relevant content.
HM Treasury

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
23 Jun 2025 Amy Rees CB · Ministry of Justice, Fran Oram · Department for Education, Jacky Tiotto · CAFCASS, Luke Taylor · Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Nick Goodwin · HMCTS View ↗

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
14 Jul 2025 To cttee Letter from the Chief Executive of HM Courts and Tribunals Service relating to …