§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what consultations she has had with CAFCASS regarding(a) the ratification of its new standards and (b) the complaints procedure it may put in place. [87316]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonCAFCASS is a non-departmental public body and there is no requirement for my Department to ratify their national standards. CAFCASS's corporate plan for 2002–06, agreed with Ministers and published in February 2002, set out CAFCASS's commitment to develop national standards and a new complaints procedure for the service. CAFCASS consulted widely on their proposed national standards and complaints procedure. CAFCASS intend to implement both next year.