Family Courts: Part 2 of the Children, Schools and Families Act 2010

Monday 11th October 2010 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Mr Jonathan Djanogly)]

The Under-Secretary of State for Education, the Minister with responsibility for children and families, my hon. Friend the Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) and I wish to make the following statement to the House about part 2 of the Children, Schools and Families Act 2010.

The Act received Royal Assent in April, but the provisions in part 2, which relate to the reporting of family court proceedings by the media, have not yet been commenced. This is a sensitive issue, on which a broad range of views have been strongly expressed. It is important that the family justice system is properly understood and commands public confidence. At the same time, there is a clear need to protect the privacy of vulnerable children and adults involved in cases in the family courts. My hon. Friend and I have decided to wait until the family justice review has published its final report before determining whether to commence these provisions, which will allow us to consider the changes part 2 of the Act would introduce in light of the review’s recommendations for reform of the family justice system.