§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolver-hampton, North-East,Official Report, 22 November, column 341, on possible changes to order 26 of the County Court Rules, what responses he has now had, 327W and from whom; whether these were in favour of changes; and what action he now propose to take.
§ Mr. StanleyMy Department has now received 16 replies to the consultation letter sent out on 30 October, including eight from organisations not formally consulted. The full list of those responding is:
- Advisory Services for Squatters
- Association of County Councils
- Benwell Community Law Project
- Coventry Legal and Incomes Rights Service
- Greater London Council
- Hornsey Community Lawyers Office
- Law Centres Federation
- London borough of Brent
- London Housing Aid Centre (SHAC)
- Mary Ward Legal Centre
- National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux
- National Consumer Council
- New Towns Association
- Shelter
- Small Landlords Association
- West London Fair Housing Group
Of the responses so far received, the majority have been in favour of the proposed changes to part I of the order, but a number have expressed concern that the proposed changes to part II would not allow occupants sufficient time to prepare any defence they might have.
The full results of the consultations by my Department will be reported to the Lord Chancellor's Department, which provides the secretariat for the County Court Rules Committee.