Who pays Cafcass - Nation of Secrecy

Dear F Mason,

Thank you for this transcript it is very helpful.
I just need to clarify which questions you would like us to answer, I have
paraphrased below, please let me know if my understanding is correct.

Q1 - How is CAFCASS funded?
Q2 - Who are CAFCASS accountable to?
Q3 - Who represents CAFCASS in Parliament?
Q4 - Who can you complaint to about CAFCASS?

Please let me have your response as soon as possible so that we can
proceed with your request.
Kind Regards

Sian Tyrrell

Siân Tyrrell
GOSE Information and Records Manager

>>> F Mason <[FOI #19405 email]> 05/10/2009
18:57:49 >>>
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

show quoted sections

Dear F Mason,

Please find attached our acknowledgement of your FOI request.

Regards

Sian Tyrrell

Siân Tyrrell
GOSE Information and Records Manager

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Dear F Mason

Please see attached a response to your recent FOI request together with a
short explanatory leaflet regarding FOI requests.

Thank you

Rupert Sheard

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