Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Accepted
Set out a joined-up data and evidence strategy for family justice within six months.
Recommendation
MoJ and DfE do not have the data they need to fully understand the reasons for poor performance and design well targeted improvements. There remain significant gaps in family justice data. HMCTS does not collect enough demographic information on children, and there are no data on outcomes for different user groups; or for the prevalence of domestic abuse in private law cases. MoJ and DfE still struggle to fully understand what are the triggers that have the most impact on case length, for example capacity constraints, or the need for expert reports, making it difficult to understand 5 where to prioritise efforts to reduce delay. Delays in cases weigh heavily on children, in particular for domestic abuse victims, but understanding of the differential impacts on different groups of service users, or what happens to children after court remains poor. It is not yet possible to follow a child from end-to-end through the family justice system, although the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill now progressing through Parliament contains a provision to introduce a single child unique identifier, which could make a material difference. In addition, not enough is known about what happens to children at the end of proceedings. A further significant data gap is that MoJ and DfE do not know how much is spent on family justice across the system, including spending by local authorities. recommendation MoJ and DfE, working with HMCTS, Cafcass and Local Authorities, in consultation with the Judiciary, should set out a joined-up data and evidence strategy over the next six months. This strategy should outline how the department will collect better data on: • most important causes of delays and inefficiencies; • tracking a child’s progress through the system from end to end; • differential outcomes for user groups; and • the ‘whole system’ costs of family justice.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating Cafcass Cymru will outline plans for a joined-up data and evidence strategy in 2026-2027 to improve data sharing, address gaps, track outcomes, and understand causes of delay. This includes piloting a unique child identifier and introducing new data modules for the Children in Need census by September 2025.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Cafcass Cymru, through the Family Justice Board, will set out plans for improving data and evidence in 2026-2027 which will align with the wider cross system family justice strategy. This strategy will set out how the government will improve data sharing, identify and address key data gaps, and strengthen the ability to track outcomes across the family justice system. The strategy will include plans to better understand more granular data to support earlier identification of bottlenecks and inform targeted improvement work. While there are existing plans to improve data collection on causes of delay and outcomes for different user groups, the government recognises that tracking a child’s journey through the system from end to end is a significant and complex undertaking. The piloting of a unique child identifier, through the Children’s Wellbeing and School’s Bill, is an important first step toward this goal – although full implementation will take time. While cost data are already well developed across key areas of family justice including courts, legal aid, and for Cafcass, it is challenging to disaggregate local authority costs. DfE is introducing a new data module in the Children in Need (CiN) census 2026-2027 to include data on pre-proceedings and Family Group Decision Making (FGDM). This new module was announced in a letter to local authorities and case management system providers on 30 September 2025, following an extensive period of consultation with the sector. The inclusion of pre-proceedings and Family Group Decision Making data in the Children in Need census reflects a growing recognition of the need for better national insight into how these processes are used across local authorities. CiN guidance, including on new data modules will be published here: Children in need census: guide to submitting data - GOV.UK The strategy will also draw on ongoing work in priority areas, including improving the experience of children and survivors of domestic abuse in private law proceedings, pre- proceedings practice and to improve understanding of differential experiences and outcomes across demographic and socioeconomic groups, ensuring greater fairness, transparency and insight into disparities within the system.