§ 42. Mr. CHALMERSasked the Attorney-General if he can yet estimate the success of the New Procedure Rules of the Supreme Court; what proportion of cases are tried under them; and whether any reduction in the cost of litigation results from their use?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALI am much obliged to my hon. Friend for putting down this question. The New Procedure Rules are working smoothly and efficiently. Since 24th May, when the Rules came into force, 93 actions in the new procedure list have been tried, as against 347 in the ordinary list. Both the judges who are taking cases in the new procedure list are fully engaged upon them. Few taxations of costs have so far taken place, but from such information as is available it appears that some reduction in the cost of litigation has resulted.
§ Mr. CHALMERSIn view of that success, and of the apparent reduction in 1780 the cost of litigation, will the Attorney-General consider extending these Rules to other forms of action, and particularly to the county courts?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALI will call the Lord Chancellor's attention to my hon. Friend's suggestion.