§ 35. Caroline Flint (Don Valley)What steps his Department is taking to consult on the costs rules to be operated in fast-track cases under the reforms of civil procedures set out in the Woolf report. [49908]
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (Mr. Geoffrey Hoon)On 22 June, the Lord Chancellor's Department issued a consultation paper on a costs regime for the fast track entitled "Justice at the Right Price". The consultation paper seeks comments by 17 August.
§ Caroline FlintI thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Does he agree that solicitors instructed by trade unions have provided an efficient and good service for trade union members at a modest cost in personal injury actions? Will he assure me that, in devising a system of costs for fast-track cases, he will take into account any potential detrimental effect of a fixed-costs regime being imposed on defendants before they have had a chance to look at their methods of operating systems to ensure that they comply with the rigours of the fast track?
§ Mr. HoonAs I have told the House on a number of occasions, I believe that the legal advice schemes provided by trade unions to their members are extremely effective. I would not wish to implement any new system that affected their operation or effectiveness. At the same time, we cannot ignore the deep-seated problems of high cost acting as a barrier to access to our courts. I assure my hon. Friend that changes will be made only when we are entirely confident that they will operate in the interests of the litigants and of society as a whole.