Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the time taken for Child Arrangements Order proceedings on children's relationships with parents from whom they are not receiving contact.

We recognise the significant impact that lengthy proceedings can have on children and families, and we are committed to improving timeliness private law proceedings. In March, the Government announced the national rollout of Child Focused Courts across England and Wales by March 2029.

The Child Focused Model focuses on early identification of risk, increased engagement with children and bespoke support for victims, all within a streamlined court process. Evidence from areas already delivering the model shows cases are being resolved up to twice as fast as the national average.