Commons Family Justice Inquiry

The House of Commons Constitutional Affairs Committee held a one-off evidence session into Family Justice: the operation of the family courts on Tuesday 2 May 2006. The committee had previously undertaken two inquiries into family justice issues; on 2 May the committee focussed mainly on:

• transparency in the family courts;
• the success of the family resolutions pilot project;
• delays in contact applications;
• the resources dedicated to the family division.

At the oral session, the following gave evidence: the Rt Hon Sir Mark Potter, President of the Family Division; Mr Justice Munby; District Judge (Magistrates' Courts) Nicholas Crichton and Audrey Damazer from the Justices' Clerks' Society.

The Committee's previous reports on family justice issues are:

• Family justice: the operation of the family courts, HC 116 (Session 2004-2005)
• Children and Family Court Advisory Service (CAFCASS), HC 614 (Session 2002-2003)

The committee members are: Rt Hon Alan Beith MP (Chairman), James Brokenshire MP, David Howarth MP, Ms Barbara Keeley MP, Mr Piara S Khabra MP, Jessica Morden MP, Julie Morgan MP, Mr Andrew Tyrie MP, Keith Vaz MP, Dr Alan Whitehead MP and Jeremy Wright MP.