The MOJ has announced the conclusion of its call for evidence on Dispute Resolution in England and Wales, which ran from 3 August to 31 October 2021. A summary of responses has now been published and is available at the following address: Dispute Resolution in England and Wales: Call for Evidence – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Mediators will find the conclusion disappointing in that there are no actual recommendations for increasing the use of ADR and mediation. The MOJ say that the “information gathered from this consultation exercise will inform the government’s consideration of dispute resolution and the role it will play in delivering swifter, more cost-effective and more consensual access to justice. We will further engage with stakeholders as our work in this area continues.”
It is fair to say that the responses received were mixed and there appears to be a need for further research. The general impression is that lawyers and the Courts need to do more to encourage mediation.