HC Deb 10 May 1954 vol 527 cc823-4
2. Mr. S. Silverman

asked the Attorney-General the average time which elapses between the lodging of a bill of costs for taxation in the High Court and the appointment to tax the bill; whether there is any difference between the time taken in the Queen's Bench and Chancery Divisions, respectively; what time elapses between the actual taxation and the issue of the taxing master's certificate; and what steps he proposes to reduce these periods.

The Attorney-General (Sir Lionel Heald)

The average time which elapses between lodging a bill of costs for taxation in the High Court and the appointment for a master's taxation is 3½ months, and for a principal clerk's taxation 2¼ months. No distinction is made in the practice of giving appointments in Queen's Bench and Chancery Division cases. The average interval between a taxation and the issue of the master's certificate is about six weeks; this period depends largely on the time taken by solicitors to lodge the completed bills in the Taxing Office.

Because of these delays, which are caused by increased business in the Supreme Court, my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has recently increased the complement of the Taxing Office very substantially. The Lord Chancellor is most anxious that the delays should be reduced, and he is watching the position closely.

Mr. Silverman

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that these very long delays are a great hardship to a great many people, bearing in mind that in infants' cases costs cannot be agreed, and in all legal-aid cases costs have to be taxed also? If a period of four to five months is to elapse between the close of a case and the winding up of the case it causes a great deal of hardship and sometimes real injustice.

Mr. Hector Hughes

Can the Attorney-General say whether the increase in the number of taxing masters has had an appreciable effect in the reduction of the arrears—has there been a long enough working of the new arrangement to enable the right hon. and learned Gentleman to say that—and, if not, does he intend to increase further the number of taxing masters?

The Attorney-General

I do not think that the House will wish me to answer a question like that offhand. They have only been appointed very recently and it is not yet possible to make a statement.