This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Encouragement for mediation
11/09/2003
The wider use of mediation to resolve disputes will mean
less pressure on the courts and less pressure on
individuals, a special conference will be told
tomorrow.
Speaking ahead of the Scottish Mediation Conference in
Stirling, Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry confirmed the
Executive's commitment to supporting and expanding
mediation services within the justice system.
Mr Henry said:
"The Executive is committed to providing the people of
Scotland with effective, efficient, accessible, and fair
ways to tackle crime and resolve disputes.
"Mediation is a winning concept. It reduces the pressure
on our courts and pressure on individuals. People should
have a range of dispute resolutions available to them to
suit many different circumstances.
"I strongly support the development of mediation
services in this context and am keen to encourage and
promote the use of mediation whenever feasible and
appropriate.
"Research published tomorrow into the cost and
effectiveness of mediation, when compared to other legal
remedies, concludes that there is great potential for the
expansion of mediation in tackling neighbours disputes.
"The Report will show that mediation is effective in the
majority of cases and inexpensive compared to legal
action."
Mediation has a role to play in many issues, across all
the departments within the Executive. Examples include:
- The Executive is funding SACRO (Safeguarding
Communities, Resolving Conflict) - £246,000 over three
years - to provide a nationwide mediation service from
which all local authorities and housing associations
can benefit.
- SACRO is launching a leaflet- Problems Next Door?
Let Mediation Help to Build a Bridge which aims to
inform members of the public about the benefits of
mediation.
- The Executive is producing information and guidance
for contractors and suppliers on methods of alternative
dispute resolution, including mediation.
- The draft Education (Additional Support for
Learning) (Scotland) Bill introduces a new duty for
independent mediation services to be set up in all
education authorities- helping resolve disputes between
parents and schools.
In addition to Mr Henry, speakers at the conference
include Chief Judge Robert Bell and Rachel Wohl, leading
figures in mediation in Maryland and the main contributors
to a Scottish Consumer Council led study programme earlier
this year.
The research, The Role of Mediation in Tackling
Neighbour Disputes and Anti social Behaviour was carried
out by the Department of Applied Social Science at Stirling
University.