Courts

(asked on 21st October 2014) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cases dealt with by (a) magistrates' courts, (b) family proceedings courts, (c) county courts, (d) coroners' courts, (e) the Crown court, (f) high court, (g) the court of appeal or (h) the Supreme Court involved a party for whom there is no legal representations on the court record in each year since 2010.


Answered by
 Portrait
Simon Hughes
This question was answered on 24th October 2014

Parties with no legal representation are not a new phenomenon in our courts. Judges are used to helping persons with no legal representation, including explaining procedures and what is expected of them. We have taken steps to help people who either want or have to represent themselves in court, particularly in the family court. On 23 October we announced further support for separating parents and court users in civil and family courts.

The new support will include:

· Improving online information so that it is accurate, engaging and easy to find.

· A new strategy, funded by the Ministry of Justice, and agreed with the legal and advice sectors which will help to increase legal and practical support for litigants in person in the civil and family courts.

· A new ‘Supporting separating parents in dispute helpline’ pilot run by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) to test a more joined-up and tailored out-of-court service.

This package of support will help provide separating couples and court users with the information, advice and guidance they need to help settle disputes in the most appropriate and proportionate way.

However, it has not been possible to answer the question within the timeframe as the information is being assembled from a variety of sources, but I will write to the Honourable Member as soon as it is available. A copy of the letter will be placed in the House Library.

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