§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what steps she has taken by the Children and Family Courts Advisory and Support Service to negotiate with NAGALRO and guardians ad litem following the judgment of Mr. Justice Scott Baker on 14 September; [16465]
(2) what plans she has to review the operations of CAFCASS following the judgment of Mr. Justice Scott Baker on 14 September; and if he will make a statement; [16466]
110W(3) how many guardians ad litem in the UK have resigned since the establishment of CAFCASS; what impact this has had on waiting lists for children seeking (a) support, (b) welfare and (c) help; and if she will make a statement. [16467]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe Lord Chancellor issued a statutory direction to CAFCASS on 3 October instructing them to begin consultation about the issue of the self-employed guardians' contracts. This consultation is under way, and CAFCASS have written to all self-employed guardians. The discussions with NAGALRO will be chaired by an independent person, and the responses of the guardians to consultation will also be assessed independently.
The information we have received from CAFCASS shows that of 716 self-employed guardians, 28 have withdrawn their services altogether, and a further 90 are not accepting new cases. 175 previously self-employed guardians have accepted contracts as employed guardians. The remainder of the guardians, employed or self-employed, continue to work normally, as do the other employees of CAFCASS. In addition CAFCASS has advertised for and identified 197 people eligible for appointment as guardians.
At the week ending 16 November, guardians were working on 11,930 cases nationally. A further 282 cases were allocated that week. The number of unallocated cases was 177. In the hon. Member's South West Region there were 848 active cases. A further 26 cases were allocated that week and six cases awaited allocation.
CAFCASS is subject to independent inspection by HM Magistrates' Court Service Inspectorate. The Inspectorate will complete its first inspection next year. Its preliminary view, based on the initial visits it has carried out so far, is that:
CAFCASS … has generally continued to deliver a service to children, families and courts to at least the same quantity and quality standards as in the previous services prior to CAFCASS being established in April 2001. In addition, there has been a significant investment in IT that is beginning to pay dividends".The Lord Chancellor and I are monitoring the situation closely. I am having weekly meetings with the Chairman of CAFCASS, and am also receiving weekly reports from him. We value extremely highly the work of all the guardians and other staff of CAFCASS, whether they are employed or self-employed, and I hope that all sides can now move on to develop the child-focused service that we all want to see.