Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Simon Hughes and Sarah Champion

Tuesday 1st July 2014 Commons Chamber

[Simon Hughes]

We are doing absolutely all we can to do that. We have consulted with the mediation industry and done publicity locally and regionally. The Government have an obligation to ensure that, whenever possible, disputes do not take place in public, as that exposes the private lives of families and children in particular. We believe that we can significantly reduce, down to 5%, the number of cases that go to court, and significantly increase—up to 30%, we hope—the number of cases resolved by mediation. We will do absolutely everything we can, and I am sure that we will see progress over the months ahead.

[Sarah Champion (Rotherham) (Lab)]

T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.