CWFM welcomes the findings of the Public Accounts Committee 15/10/07
CWFM has been aware of the findings of the National Audit Office for some time (See below). What is most pleasing is that the Public Accounts Committee has upheld these findings.
It is shocking that 1/3 of divorcing families have not been informed about mediation as an option to the court process.
The new Legal Aid Contract (from 1st Oct 2007) appears to incentivise solicitors to refer clients to a mediation provider at an early stage. We hope that they pick up on this quickly and give clients the opportunity to make an informed decision about using mediation.
Press articles can be found by following the links below-
The full report can be found by following the link below -
Jane Robey CEO for National Family Mediation has welcomed todays
report by the Public Accounts Committee which accepts the economic benefits for legal aid when family mediation is used but she asked "that the benefits to children should not be forgotten.
The National Audit Office report issued in March 2007 had calculated the country could save £74m if only a relatively small number of separating couples used family mediation."
But Mrs Robey said that "there was clear evidence that children are the real winners, negotiated settlements mean they see more of their parents in the long term, agreements reached in mediation last longer and children benefit from the economic and emotional support of both parents."
Mrs Robey added; "Lets hope this time something happens. For a long time there has been a mismatch between the warm words spoken by government ministers about the importance of mediation and a willingnwess to support it in real terms".
Website updated - 4th August 2008
