Speeches by Dixon.

“May I come in with just a very small follow-up on this? I was talking to the grandfather of Star Hobson; people will know the tragic case in Bradford, where a child was murdered by a cohabiting partner of the mother. Obviously he was not involved in the discussions about child protection. I just wanted to ensure that t…”

“Sir Andrew, you mentioned the designated family judge approach. I understood it to be a pilot, or were you suggesting that it is now usual business?”

“For the other witnesses, what are your thoughts about what needs to be done to address this fragmentation in governance? Are there other solutions that you would be proposing? Jacky, do you want to go first?”

“Hence, I said basic demographics are a given. Dame Nicole Jacobs?”

“Is that what you would be recommending?”

“It sounds to me that, given the geographical variation, the reasons for delay differ so you would also be advocating strengthening the local Family Justice Boards.”

“Just picking up the point about governance, the Public Accounts Committee concluded that the current arrangements for family justice are complex. Many organisations are involved, but they are non-accountable for overall performance. At national level there is the Family Justice Board, which does not seem to have met ve…”

“In response to the Public Accounts Committee, there is a suggestion that we come forward with a plan. What should be in that plan? Dame Nicole, do you have any thoughts on this?”

“We may have already touched on the long waits: these cases that are delayed over 100 weeks. Obviously, the Family Justice Board set some ambitious priorities for 2024-25, including reducing the number of cases open for over 100 weeks to zero, both private and public. You mentioned the 4,000 children who are waiting in …”

“Hence, I said basic demographics are a given. Dame Nicole Jacobs?”

“We may have already touched on the long waits: these cases that are delayed over 100 weeks. Obviously, the Family Justice Board set some ambitious priorities for 2024-25, including reducing the number of cases open for over 100 weeks to zero, both private and public. You mentioned the 4,000 children who are waiting in …”

“Do we have data on how many cases actually do get continuity?”

“Just picking up the point about governance, the Public Accounts Committee concluded that the current arrangements for family justice are complex. Many organisations are involved, but they are non-accountable for overall performance. At national level there is the Family Justice Board, which does not seem to have met ve…”

“Is that what you would be recommending?”

“I am the MP for Shipley constituency and a Member of the Public Accounts Committee. Given that the Public Accounts Committee recently considered the family courts, I am guesting on this Committee just for this session. The only possible relevant declaration is that my mum was for many years a magistrate in the family c…”

“It sounds to me that, given the geographical variation, the reasons for delay differ so you would also be advocating strengthening the local Family Justice Boards.”

“In response to the Public Accounts Committee, there is a suggestion that we come forward with a plan. What should be in that plan? Dame Nicole, do you have any thoughts on this?”

“For the other witnesses, what are your thoughts about what needs to be done to address this fragmentation in governance? Are there other solutions that you would be proposing? Jacky, do you want to go first?”

“But do you have any insights yourself?”

“Does continuity of the judge play any role in this?”