Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:38 pm on 16 July 2019.
Llywydd, can I thank Helen Mary Jones for those very important points? The operation of the family courts in Wales is something that we rightly take an interest in here. My understanding is that the justice commission, chaired by Lord Thomas, has taken an increasing interest in its work in the operation of the family courts and that we can look to the report, which we expect in the autumn, to give us some advice on the relationship between the Welsh Government and family courts here in Wales. Helen Mary, I know, will be aware of the fact that the UK Government has recently announced a review of the family justice system, and the panel announced by the Ministry of Justice has not had a Welsh representative on it. So, I've written to the Secretary of State, urging him to make good that gap because there are aspects of the devolved settlement that mean that the work of the family courts directly has to rely on matters that are devolved here in Wales, including CAFCASS Cymru, and it's right that that review should be properly informed by all the work that goes on here in Wales. So, I entirely agree with what the Member said. I'm very happy to talk to the Counsel General. I want to provide her with an assurance that there are already actions being taken to make sure that our children's rights approach is fully communicated to non-devolved bodies when they operate here in Wales.