Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce the backlog of child access cases in family courts following the covid-19 outbreak.

The protection of children, in particular those who are most vulnerable, is a priority for this government and this has never been more important than during the Covid-19 pandemic. I am extremely grateful for the dedication of family justice professionals at this unprecedented time.

The family courts have been quick to respond to the pandemic. The cases deemed to be most urgent are being prioritised, and where suitable, cases are being heard remotely to allow this vital work to continue during lockdown periods. Hundreds of courtrooms have since reopened to allow face-to-face hearings, and a record number of sitting days were used in June and July 2020 with family judges sitting more days than previously planned before the pandemic.

We are continuing to work across the family justice system to boost the throughput of cases, building on steps already taken such as enhancing the role of legal advisors and encouraging the more effective triaging and routing of cases according to type.