Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the mental health needs of fathers who are going through custody proceedings.

We know the difficulties parents can face in continuing a relationship with their child following parental separation, which is why this Government is committed to ensuring that all parents can get the support they need to access the justice system across England and Wales.

Since 2015, the Ministry of Justice’s Litigants In Person Support Strategy has provided close to £9m to fund a range of services to support individuals. This includes funding for: LawWorks - a charity committed to enabling access to justice to individuals in need of advice, who are not eligible for legal aid and are without the means to pay for a lawyer; Advocate - providers of pro bono legal work for litigants in person, including written advice and representation up to Court of Appeal; Royal Courts of Justice Advice - which provides free legal advice for those with civil or family cases in court; and Advicenow - a not for profit website for litigants in person offering guides and resources.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service also works closely with the charity ‘Support Through Court’, who offer practical, procedural and emotional support to all parents facing court without legal representation. Support Through Court is based at 16 courts locations in England and Wales, and also offers a national helpline.

In addition, we are currently in the second year of the two-year, £3.1m Legal Support for Litigants in Person Grant (LSLIP). Launched in April 2020, the grant has enabled local and regional partnerships to be formed which have been fundamental in increasing collaboration between neighbouring services to enhance the advice and support available for litigants in person, including parents.