To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward proposals to require the parties in cases concerning the residence of children and contact arrangements with non-resident parents to attend a mediation assessment before commencing court proceedings. (156195)

Parties applying for public funding under the Community Legal Service are already required to attend a meeting with a mediator to consider mediation.

The Government continue to encourage the greater use of family mediation but do not believe that it should be made compulsory or that all parties in disputes over child residence and contact should be required to attend a meeting to consider its use.

The Government will make changes to court rules and application forms to facilitate referrals to family mediation where the court considers this would be beneficial.

The Children and Adoption Act 2006 when fully implemented will enable the court to direct parties to attend a meeting to learn about mediation in cases where it considers this is appropriate.