A REPLY BACK TO MY PAIN COLLEAGUE FROM ED BALLS DEPARTMENT-FAMILY COURTS

[Alison J Stevens]

Dear Ms Stewart-Taylor

Thank you for your emails of 21 December, addressed to Ed Balls and Ruth Kelly, concerning the secrecy in family courts.

The family courts play a crucial role in protecting the welfare of some of the most vulnerable children in our society.

The Government has included provisions in the current Children, Schools and Families Bill to continue the process of opening up the family courts by broadening the amount of information which can be reported by those media representatives attending proceedings. The Government's intention is that these measures will help make sure that the family justice system is transparent, accountable and inspires the confidence of the people it serves, whilst ensuring that the welfare and privacy of children and families continues to be protected.

Yours sincerely
Jill Sewell
Public Communications Unit
www.dcsf.gov.uk