Munby on care reform inquiry

Money is being ‘squandered’ on lawyers in care proceedings, according to the President of the Family Division who backed a government funding inquiry.

In his View From the President’s Chambers, Sir James Munby said the number of new cases continued to rise ‘relentlessly’. CAFCASS figures showed in the 12 months to March 2016 there were 12,781 new cases, up 14% from 11,159.

Munby said he was ‘strongly opposed’ to watering down the tandem model, which requires children be represented by a guardian and solicitor, but he said that did not mean its operation should be immune from scrutiny.

‘We need to remember that all this costs money,’ he said. ‘Money should only be spent on what is necessary to enable the court to deal with the proceedings justly.’