Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
45th Report - Improving family court services for children
Public Accounts Committee
HC 883
Published 12 September 2025
Conclusions (4)
25
Conclusion
Acknowledged
We asked MoJ and DfE why the system was not working as well as it should, given that better data sharing should allow improvements, and whether this was evidence of complacency.58 Delays in cases weigh heavily on children, in particular, domestic abuse victims.59 Gaps in the data mean that MoJ …
Government Response Summary
Acknowledges delays, data gaps, and differing data collection methods, and the potential of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
26
Conclusion
Acknowledged
MoJ told us that there are separate accounting officers for each part of the system, and that each could account for the costs for which they were responsible.62 MoJ accepted, however, that they did not know the cost of the family justice system in totality, including spending by local authorities.63 …
Government Response Summary
Acknowledges the MoJ's statement about separate accounting officers and the lack of knowledge regarding the total cost of the family justice system, including local authority spending.
28
Conclusion
Acknowledged
The new model reduces the number of court hearings and redistributes costs across the system.69 Evaluations from the two early pilots found that costs for local authorities more than doubled as social workers were involved in more cases, while the judicial cost halved due to a reduced number of hearings.70 …
Government Response Summary
Acknowledges the cost redistribution of the new model and the need for reallocation of funding to support Cafcass and local authority social workers.
29
Conclusion
Acknowledged
MoJ told us that progress with improving timeliness for private law, including in London, will depend on the speed with which it rolls out the Pathfinder model.72 However, despite positive evaluations, wide stakeholder support, and the potential to improve timeliness, progress in rolling out the new model is slow. Pathfinder …
Government Response Summary
Acknowledges the progress of the Pathfinder model roll-out depends on funding and preparatory work.