Public Accounts committee report on improving family court services for children
On 12 September 2025, the House of Commons Public Accounts committee published a report on improving family court services for children. The report highlights that statutory targets such as the 26 week completion requirement for most public law cases have never been met, with case durations averaging 36 to 41 weeks and over 4,000 children involved in cases open for more than 100 weeks. The report identifies multiple factors contributing to delays, including shortages of district judges and social workers (especially in London and the South East), complex administrative processes and fragmented accountability structures across various state bodies.