Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Department of Health and Social Care on the regulation of experts in family courts.

Officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health and Social Care have been engaging on the issue of the regulation of experts in the family courts.

The issue of whether experts are appointed in family proceedings is a matter for the independent judiciary in each individual case, following the parameters set down in legislation and procedure rules, in particular, section 13 of the Children and Families Act 2014 and Practice Direction 25B. If the expert’s area is regulated by a UK statutory body, they must confirm possession of a current licence to practice or equivalent. If the area is not regulated, then they must demonstrate appropriate qualifications and/or registration with a relevant professional body.