§ 30. Mr. Nicholas Bakerasked the Attorney-General if Her Majesty's Government will bring forward proposals to speed up the trial of substantial commercial cases before the High Court.
§ The Attorney-General (Sir Michael Havers)The Commercial Court already has a simplified procedure with briefer pleadings and expeditious hearings before experienced judges. The civil justice review which, will be looking at the jurisdictional, procedural and administrative aspects of the main classes of civil business, will be looking closely at the court. In the meantime, the Commercial Court committee has set up a small working party which is considering improvements in procedure.
§ Mr. BakerI am sure that my right hon. and learned Friend agrees that a two-year delay in bringing cases to hearing is quite unacceptable. Will he consider appointing more judges? Will he also consider procedural changes, such as allowing a court to require a preliminary view of a case to be taken and a greater use of written statements so that the preliminary view of a case being seen will encourage the parties to decide the matter at a much earlier stage and so reduce costs?
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Commercial Court already offers significant procedural advantages. It is able to deal very quickly with complex and urgent interlocutory matters, using procedures which are not available in the Queen's Bench Division as a whole. There are two reviews in progress. A review is being conducted by the Commercial Court committee, and there is the civil justice review, which will start looking at matters in the spring.
§ Mr. RymanHas the right hon. and learned Gentleman any news about the progress of the deliberations of Lord Roskill's committee on commercial frauds?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI do not think that that arises out of this question, but in fact I am unable to help the hon. Gentleman.