Written questions by Smart.

With reference to Article 13(b) of the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, what steps she is taking to ensure the definition in UK law of "grave risk of harm" includes domestic violence.

There is no legal definition of “grave risk of harm” in England and Wales. In the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention court cases about the return of a child where one of the parties seeks to demonstrate there is a grave risk of harm under Article 13(b) in the specific case, evidence of domestic abuse can be put before the court. It is a matter for the independent court hearing a case under the 1980 Hague Convention to assess the evidence put before the court and to decide if a grave risk of harm is established.

What steps her Department is taking to reduce delays in processing times for Deputyship applications by the Court of Protection.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service is focused on increasing outputs to reduce the overall timeliness on all types of applications and to reduce delays in processing times. HMCTS has implemented a number of different measures which includes a targeted action plan to increase resources to meet the higher demand and the training and upskilling of new staff. HMCTS has also implemented new digital ways of working together with a new case management system which will support the reduction in overall end to end processing times.

What estimate her Department has made of the average processing times for deputyship applications by the Court of Protection.

Data on the average processing time for deputyship applications, from receipt to disposal by the Court of Protection, is not currently available.The court has recently migrated to a new case management system and work is in hand as part of the HMCTS data strategy to develop management information data.

If her Department will take steps to (a) improve communication practices, (b) ensue greater sensitivity in interactions, (c) better manage families’ expectations to prevent (i) delays and (ii) unnecessary distress and (d) otherwise reform the coroner services to put bereaved families at the centre of operations.

It is important that the inquest process is as swift, efficient and sensitive as possible and that bereaved families are put at the heart of the process in order to avoid additional distress at such a difficult time in their lives.Whilst the Ministry of Justice is responsible for coroner law and policy, this Department does not have operational responsibility for coroner services which are administered and funded by individual local authorities according to local priorities and need.These issues were raised by the Justice Committee in their recent follow-up inquiry into the coroner service. The Government is carefully considering the Committee’s findings, including on guidance and what additional support for bereaved people may be needed and will respond on the steps it intends to take to further support the coroner service in due course.We will continue to work with the Chief Coroner to consider and address any issues of consistency and to share best practice across coroner areas.