Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 19:05:29 +0100
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - Who pays Cafcass - Nation of Secrecy
From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
To: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.x.xxx.xxx.xx

     Dear Sir or Madam,
     
     It is probably wise to supply a transcribed version as a preventive
     measure for the Public.
     
     Between April 2008 and March 2009, CAFCASS had 6,465 cases on its
     books.
     That’s nearly 18 new cases a day or one new case every thirty
     minutes of the working day.
     
     Source: CAFCASS
     
     Over the last four fiscal years, CAFCASS has dealt with 26,104
     separate cases.
     At a conservatively estimated cost of proceedings in Family Court
     of £400,000 per case, that means CAFCASS has been instrumental in
     spending £10.4 billion of public funds, minimum, over four years.
     
     Source: CAFCASS
     
     That’s £2.6 billion a year, not counting rollover cases. Or to put
     it another way;
     Between 21 municipal areas which CAFCASS is divided into, £124.3
     million per area per year.
     
     Source:CAFCASS
     
     Where does this money come from?
     Who pays CAFCASS?
     
     Funding is received in part from Central Government.
     This does not answer the burning question; Where does the rest of
     the money come from?
     
     We’re talking about litigation funding from Central Government
     straight to CAFCASS that is equal to fully one tenth of the
     Interest accrued on the Central Government (i.e. National) Debt
     through 2008/09.
     
     Where does this money come from?
     
     We haven’t even started talking about;
     
     Salaries for CAFCASS, Social Services or their ancillary staff yet.
     
     Who controls the money?
     Who do CAFCASS answer to?
     Who accounts for the actions of CAFCASS?
     Who legislates for CAFCASS?
     Who represents CAFCASS in Parliament?
     Who do you complain to when CAFCASS goes bad?
     To who do we turn to put right that which CAFCASS gets wrong so
     often?
     
     Local Government? Central Government? Corporate Interests? Civil
     Liberties groups? Or each other?
     
     Kind regards,
     
     F Mason
     
     
     
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