According to The Guardian, the U.K.’s Ministry of Justice has released new numbers showing that the mediation services offered for family-related disputes have seen a decline in use due to budget cuts for legal aids.  Despite the government’s push to show mediation as a good alternative to costly and lengthy litigation in divorces and custody disputes, without the proper manpower to run the government-sponsored programs, fewer families will reap the benefits. 

The most recent reports released by the Ministry of Justice are showing a 47% decrease in family mediation program use as a direct result of the budget cut-backs—cut-backs that are still defended by ministers as a way to lower the level of confrontation between couples and save money for the already over-stretched taxpayers.  Opponents to these cut-backs argue that the result will be fewer couples receiving the beneficial advice to work with accredited mediators and reap the full benefits that family mediation as a form of alternative dispute resolution can have.

The real-world result of the budget cuts can already be seen in the influx of family disputes now clogging the family court system.  According to Rachel Duke, the head of family law at Ronald, Fletcher & Baker, “Since 1 April, we have had far fewer inquiries from clients who would previously have been eligible for legal aid.  They are not self-referring to mediation services.  They are issuing applications in court in person.  The [family] courts are consequently becoming more congested."