§ 35. Mr. Buchanan-SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he is making for the Scottish Association of Family Conciliation Services and regional family conciliation services in Scotland to secure a level of funding which will meet the needs of all sheriff courts and the Court of Session, in light of the forthcoming rules of court which will empower sheriffs and judges to remit parties to the conciliation services; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RifkindThe Scottish Association of Family Conciliation Services has been offered grant for 1990–91 under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, amounting to £45,500 in respect of revenue and £6,250 in respect of capital expenditure. The local services are not funded by central Government except where local authority expenditure attracts urban programme grant.
It has always been open to judges to refer parties to conciliation. The new court procedures will make this explicit.
I am considering the question of funding for conciliation services.