Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the post-legislative memorandum on the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2014, submitted to the Justice Select Committee on 30 October 2017, what steps he is taking to increase the take-up of family mediation.

The Government is committed to promoting mediation and its benefits. Mediation can be less stressful and quicker than going to court and can help to reduce conflict after a separation and avoid court battles. Funding remains available for family mediation cases where the applicants are eligible for legal aid. Since November 2014, legal aid has also funded the cost of Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings (MIAM) and the first mediation session for both parties in a dispute, even if just one of them is eligible. The Government continues working to improve information and signposting on digital platforms to encourage couples to consider mediation.

The Government recently announced the start of a Post-Implementation Review (PIR) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO). The review will assess the effect of changes to legal aid provision for mediation in private family law cases which were made under LASPO.