HC Deb 11 July 1923 vol 166 cc1349-50
74. Mr. LEACH

asked the Attorney-General if he will give the number of cases in which costs on the County Court scale only were allowed on judgments signed in the High Court during the year 1922?

The SOLICITOR - GENERAL (Sir Thomas Inskip)

I am informed that the information asked for is not available.

75. Mr. LEACH

asked the Attorney-General if he will have included in the Annual Return, Judicial Statistics, High Court of Justice, Proceedings in District Registries, during the year 1923, columns showing, respectively, the number of cases entered which could have been entered in the County Court and the number of cases where, on judgment being signed, costs on the County Court scale were allowed?

The SOLICITOR - GENERAL

The question as to what should be included in the Annual Return of Judicial Statistics has recently formed the subject of a careful inquiry by an expert Committee, who did not recommend that the statistics should afford the information asked for by the hon. Member. The information would be most costly and laborious to collect, and if it were, as the hon. Member suggests, restricted to the case of proceedings in district registries, it would be incomplete and misleading.

76. Mr. LEACH

asked the Attorney-General whether the provisions of the County Courts Act, 1919, 9 and 10 Geo. V, c. 73, s. 11, are having the effect of causing cases to be entered in the County Court instead of the High Court?

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL

There has been, since the passing of the Act of 1919, a very large increase in the number of cases for larger amounts commenced in the County Court. This increase is due to many causes and it is impossible to say how much is due to the passing of the Ad of 1919.