Oral Answers to Questions

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Tuesday 9th July 2019 Commons Chamber

[Eddie Hughes (Walsall North) (Con)]

4. What steps the Government are taking to encourage divorcing couples to reconcile.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

20. What steps his Department is taking to provide counselling to couples seeking a divorce.

[The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr David Gauke)]

When people make the difficult decision to divorce, the evidence suggests that counselling will often be too late at that stage. Seeking counselling would be a personal choice for those involved. For counselling to bring a change of direction, it would require the willing co-operation of both people in the marriage. We will look at the information available to people who are contemplating divorce to see whether we can strengthen signposting to marriage counselling, and our Bill will provide the opportunity for parties to reflect on the decision to divorce by introducing a minimum timeframe within the legal process. Couples who can reconcile will be able to do so.

[Mr Gauke]

I think there is a wider debate to be had about how Government as a whole can address issues that lead to relationship breakdown. Simply funding marriage support services may not address the heart of the issue or reach the people who need help most at the right time, but I agree that there is a need to test what works to help couples to stay together, and I am happy to listen to the arguments about that.

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

What mediation services and contact centres are available, and what is their role?

[Mr Gauke]

Family mediation offers a way to resolve child or financial arrangements without litigation, and child contact centres provide safe, neutral venues where separated couples can build sustainable long-term child arrangements. In reforming the legal process for divorce, we will look to strengthen how couples are signposted to such services. My right hon. Friend refers to counselling, a service for people whose relationships are in trouble. As well as using services such as Relate, many people draw on family, friends and others they can trust. A marriage is more likely to be saveable before the legal process of divorce has begun.