New Clause 13
Children and Young Persons Bill [Lords]
1:30 pm
Edward Timpson (Crewe and Nantwich, Conservative)
I know from my own experience that there has been an increase in the number of written judgments issued and approved by judges in controversial family law cases, particularly those that have then crept into the criminal arena such as cases of non-accidental injury. There has also been an increase in cases being judged worthy of publication through bad practice, not only from local authorities, but from other agencies. Does my hon. Friend therefore agree that a presumption that there would be a written judgment in a family case, unless there was good reason not to do so, such as for public interest immunity or the particular sensitivity of the case, would at least be a starting point in opening up the family courts to a more transparent way forward?