§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how many children have been awaiting CAFCASS hearings on future guardianship for(a) three to four weeks, (b) five to eight weeks, (c) nine to 12 weeks and (d) more than 12 weeks. [120386]
§ Margaret HodgeThe Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) does not make the decision to remove children from the care of their parents or guardians, or hold hearings on future guardianship. Court hearings are held to determine these questions. A CAFCASS practitioner represents the interests of a child during proceedings. The court considers all the evidence before it, including CAFCASS reports and makes the decision about the child's future. At the end of April 2003, CAFCASS were dealing with 12,245 public law cases (care, adoption, freeing orders and guardianship) that were at various stages between application and final hearing. Information on how many98W children are awaiting hearings on future guardianship is not held centrally and could not be collected without incurring disproportionate cost.