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Dept for Education and Skills

Answer

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) cancelled appointments and (b) non-attendances there were at each Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service contact centre in the last year for which figures are available; and what percentage of appointments made this represents in each case. [194750] Lord Filkin: CAFCASS does not consistently collect statistics in relation to non-attendance or cancelled appointments at Child Contact Centres. The National Association of Child Contact Centres takes responsibility for the collection of national statistics, so as to develop a national perspective. It is not a mandatory requirement at the present time that NACCC member contact centres keep such statistics. CAFCASS has a broadly purchaser-provider relationship with 180 contact centres through a variety of partnership agreements. In addition, CAFCASS is aware of more than 100 contact centres, which though not directly funded by CAFCASS, also provide services to families. This may include providing services to families in cases where CAFCASS has prepared reports under section 7 of the Children Act 1989. CAFCASS is significantly involved in the running of nine contact centres through the direct employment of staff, and in some cases, the provision of premises.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

194750; 426 c2098-9W;426 c2104-5W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

CAFCASS Contact orders Attendance Parents