The government has agreed to initiate a fundamental review of the board of the troubled Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS), but has not said whether it will receive more funding.

In its response to a highly critical report on CAFCASS by the Constitutional Affairs Select Committee (see [2003] Gazette, 24 July, 5), the government said it planned to act on many of the committee's recommendations, including a review of the board to see if it could be made to work more effectively.

In its response, the CAFCASS board raised the issue of its budget.

'How are we to meet rising and changing demand, with a still inadequate budget?' it asked.

Select committee chairman Alan Beith welcomed the government's answer but said: 'It is not at all clear what their response is to CAFCASS's need for resources.'

The CAFCASS board also committed the service to tackling delays and seeking resources to test different ways of solving private law contact and residence disputes.

It also intends to set up a legal liaison group to improve communication with the profession.