Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if it remains his policy to ensure the availability of legal aid for family mediation.

Legal aid remains available for mediation in private family cases subject to a means and merits test. Since November 2014, legal aid has covered the cost of the Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings (MIAMs) and the first mediation session for both parties, even if just one of them is eligible. The Government continues working to improve information and signposting on digital platforms to encourage parties 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.