HL Deb 12 March 1998 vol 587 cc71-2WA
Lord Ashbourne

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which organisations and consortia of organisations have received money in the form of a grant or otherwise, or are scheduled to receive such money, to carry out mediation pilots under the provisions of the Family Law Act 1996, stating in each case the amount given or to be given to each organisation or consortium; the purpose of the grant; the starting date of the pilot; and what conditions have been laid down as a prerequisite to applying for or receiving such grants. [HL857]

The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)

The 33 organisations listed in the following schedule are contracted to the Legal Aid Board for the purpose of providing legally aided family mediation. Phase I contracts commenced between July and September 1997 and will end between May and July 1998. Before a contract is awarded by the board, the mediation supplier must be able to demonstrate that the mediators have trained with one of the key mediation bodies and that the service is working towards compliance with the requirements of the Draft Family Mediation Franchise Specification. Information about the amounts paid to organisations under contracts must remain confidential at present, as negotiations are continuing with further mediation suppliers and disclosure of these details would be likely to affect the Legal Aid Board's negotiating position with the organisations concerned.

List of organisations awarded contracts by the Legal Aid Board to provide legally aided family mediation

  • London
  • Divorce Mediation and Counselling Service
  • Mediation for Families (East London & City)
  • Barnet, Haringey and Hertsmere African Caribbean Family Mediation Service
  • The Family Mediation Service at the Institute of Family Therapy
  • N.C.H. Action for Children—Eye to Eye
  • South East London Family Mediation Bureau
  • Anthony Gold Lerman and Muirhead
  • The Family Law Consortium
  • Bates Wells & Braithwaite
  • Dawson Cornwell & Co.
  • Cambridge/Peterborough
  • Cambridge Family & Divorce Centre
  • Peterborough & District Family Mediation Service
  • Birmingham/Coventry
  • Coventry & Warwickshire Family Mediation Service
  • Birmingham Family Mediation Service
  • Blair Allison & Co.
  • Cardiff
  • Family Mediation Cardiff
  • South Wales Family Mediators Association
  • Hugh James
  • The Mediation Practice
  • Morgan Bruce
  • Newcastle/Durham
  • Family Mediation Service (Northumberland & Tyneside)
  • Durham Family Mediation
  • Manchester
  • Greater Manchester Family Mediation Service
  • Greater Manchester Family Mediators Association
  • Simon Bergin Solicitors
  • Northamptonshire
  • Northamptonshire Family Mediation Service
  • Smith Chamberlain—The Mediation Service
  • Paul Montgomery
  • Wilson Browne
  • Toiler Hales & Collcutt
  • Bristol
  • Bristol Family Mediation Service
  • Bristol Family Mediators Association