§ Lord Windleshamasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the basis for the reported calculation that 80 per cent of the running costs of the proposed Supreme Court would be met by increases in fees paid by litigants in courts throughout the United Kingdom. [HL1687]
§ The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)My predecessor announced to this House on 19 November 1998 that fees for civil business in the courts in England and Wales will be set to recover full cost. Civil business will account for approximately 80 per cent of the work of the new UK Supreme Court. The Government are working closely with the devolved administrations in developing appropriate funding mechanisms for the UK Supreme Court.