The Government's Annual Report on the Implementation of the ADR Pledge 2007/2008 is published today, and the CMC notes that it is very much more positive than in previous years.

In March 2001, the then Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine pledged formally to commit government departments and agencies to use mediation to settle legal disputes in all suitable cases wherever the party accepted it. Since then, the Government has annually reviewed the progress and monitored the use of ADR, and the most recent report shows that the use of ADR has risen by 25.25% over the previous year.

The Civil Mediation Council, led by Sir Henry Brooke, represents the common interests of Mediation Providers and Mediators in promoting mediation. It does so through the performance of the Council’s objects, and, generally, by improving the understanding of the uses and applications of mediation. The Civil Mediation Council therefore warmly welcomes the report, and pledges itself to continue working in collaboration with Government to increase still further the volume of disputes referred to mediation.

Sir Henry said today: "This is excellent news. More and more people are now turning to mediation as a better, cheaper and less stressful means of resolving disputes they cannot settle on their own. It is good to hear that recourse to mediation is being increasingly adopted by Government itself."

CMC
9th April 2009

«...back to News menu

View archived news...