Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the proposal by the President of the Family Division that children should be dealt with in new "problem-solving" courts.

The Ministry of Justice works with other departments to achieve the best outcomes for children both outside and within the court process. We are committed to ensuring that young people in the youth justice system receive the support they need to prevent them from committing further offences, with youth offending teams leading a multi-agency approach involving the courts, children’s services and other local services as appropriate. We recognise that problem-solving approaches can provide alternatives to a traditional court process, and may lead to improved outcomes for children and their families. We are supportive of such approaches in family proceedings, for example Family Drug and Alcohol Courts and the current piloting of settlement conferences.