Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he as made of the savings accrued to the public purse of using family mediation as an alternative to court proceedings.

Mediation can help reduce conflict, by avoiding potentially contentious court proceedings which can be harmful to children and affect their long-term outcomes. The potential benefits of early resolution of family disputes, including through mediation, are therefore long term, wide ranging and potentially affect a number of government services. The evidence necessary to establish these system wide impacts, and therefore estimate any savings generated, is not currently available.

I am clear that the Government remains committed to supporting mediation for separating couples. Where it is safe and appropriate, mediation is an effective way of resolving disputes about finances and children. We are working to improve information and signposting to raise awareness of mediation and to encourage more separating couples to try it.