Press notice 18 of Session 2003-04 5 November 2004
Evidence Sessions
Committee Office, House of Commons, 7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA
Media Enquiries: Adele Brown 020 7219 0724, Committee Contact: 020 7219 8196/8198
Family Justice: The Family Courts
The Constitutional Affairs Committee will hold the first of a number of evidence sessions on:
Family Justice: the family courts on
Tuesday 9 November.
The Committee announced this inquiry on
20 September 2004 (
Press Notice 17, Session 2003-04), available on the Press Notice page of the Committee's website at:
www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/conaffcom.cfm
Key areas to be investigated are:
whether the family court system is being run effectively
whether family court judges have sufficient powers
issues surrounding delays caused by the current system
whether people using family courts are getting the service they deserve
Details of the evidence sessions are as follows:
Tuesday 9 November
9.30 am
Rt Hon Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss DBE, President of the Family Division, Rt Hon Lord Justice Wall and Hon Mr Justice Munby;
10.15 am (approx.) HHJ Meston QC, a Circuit Judge from the Western Circuit, District Judge Michael Walker, Honorary Secretary of the Association of District Judges and District Judge Nicholas Crichton, Inner London and City Family Proceedings Court
Tuesday 7 December
9.30 am
The Law Society; Family Law Bar Association; Solicitors Family Law Association
Tuesday 14 December
9.30 am
Women's Aid; NSPCC; Mavis Maclean and John Eekelaar (academic commentators); CAFCASS
Tuesday 11 January 2005
9.30 am
NCH and other witnesses (to be confirmed)
Details of the sessions will appear on the Committees website at:
www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/conaffcom/conaffcom_future_meetings.cfm
A copy of the transcripts of evidence will be available as soon as practicable on the Reports and Publications page of the Committee's website at:
www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/conaffcom/conaffcom_reports_and_publications.cfm
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Specific Committee Information: Tel 020 7219 8196/ 8198, email: conaffcom@parliament.uk
Committee Website: www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/conaffcom.cfm
Watch committees and parliamentary debates online: www.parliamentlive.tv
Publications / Reports / Reference Material: Copies of all select committee reports are available from the Parliamentary Bookshop (12 Bridge St, Westminster, 020 7219 3890) or the Stationery Office (0845 7023474). Committee reports, press releases, evidence transcripts, Bills; research papers, a directory of MPs, plus Hansard (from 8am daily) and much more, can be found on www.parliament.uk