Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill progresses, but Children’s Commissioner highlights missing priorities – Family Law Week

On 8 January 2025 the Department for Education issued a Statement ahead of the subsequently successful further reading of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. Within that Statement they note proposed key benefits, stating: “Major reforms to protect thousands of vulnerable children hidden from sight will take another crucial step forward today, as the Children’s …

National Audit Office criticises government’s management of legal aid

The Ministry of Justice does not know whether everyone eligible for legal aid can access it and the government needs to do more to ensure the sector is sustainable, a damning report from the public spending watchdog states today. And while the MoJ has succeeded in its objective of significantly reducing spending, it cannot demonstrate …

Criminal legal aid: no widespread systemic failure, government tells High Court

A few duty solicitor schemes under particular strain do not amount to widespread systemic failure in the criminal legal aid sector, lawyers for the government have told High Court judges hearing a judicial review challenge brought by the Law Society over solicitors’ fees. Chancery Lane is challenging the government’s decision not to raise criminal legal …