Family justice minister Harriet Harman last week revealed that measurescould be introduced as early as next year in a new family justice Bill(Children Now, 1-7 November).
She told a conference the Government was determined to press ahead withplans it put out for consultation earlier this year. She said: "Ibelieve the status quo - in terms of the closed nature of the familycourts - is not an option. So we are consulting on how to make thefamily courts more open. Allowing the press in, and others in onapplication to the court. But with reporting restrictions, whichguarantee anonymity."
Anthony Douglas, chief executive of the Children and Family CourtAdvisory and Support Service, gave the idea cautious support. He said:"As long as clear safeguards for individual children are retained,Cafcass supports opening up the family courts to greater scrutiny. Ourhope is that public understanding of the needs, wishes and feelings ofthe country's most vulnerable children and young people (will improve asa result)."
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