Written question asked by Eric Illsley (Labour) on Thursday, 14 May 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 18 May 2009. It was answered by Baroness Hughes of Stretford (Labour) on Tuesday, 2 June 2009 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Children: Protection

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to reduce the time taken by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in Barnsley to deal with access cases.

Answer: The role of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) in contact cases is to advise the court on what is in child's/children's best interest and safety; but it is for the court to decide on the most appropriate contact, looking at the individual circumstances of case.Where courts in Barnsley have requested a CAFCASS report in respect of contact applications they have been completed, on average, within 17 weeks in 2008-09. CAFCASS have agreed with the courts in Barnsley to reduce the time taken to deal with these requests to 12 weeks from 1 April 2009.

Secondary information