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In reply to David Darby, the removal of legal aid for all family cases except where there is domestic violence in April 2013 has had the effect of removing lawyers from most family cases.

The result has been fewer people going to mediation (which contrary to your assertion is generally a very good way of achieving a lasting settlement of all issues between the parties - so long as both are willing to be reasonable); more court proceedings being issued, and more cases going to fully contested final hearings.

And you are factually wrong, the number of applications for domestic violence injunctions on legal aid has fallen, not increased, since the cuts came in. There were 15,214 legal aid certificates for domestic violence in 2012-13 and 14,231 in 2013-14.