Small Claims Courts

HC Deb 01 July 1994 vol 245 cc729-30W

Mr. John Greenway

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether he intends to make a provision for costs in the small claims court.

Mr. John M. Taylor

Although often referred to as a "no-costs" regime, the small claims procedure does provide for the recovery of some costs, as detailed An order 19, rule 4 of the county court rules. Under this rule, the costs stated on the summons and the costs of enforcing the award may be recovered. In addition, the court may award allowances relating to the party's and witness's expenses and to experts' fees.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many personal injury cases were pursued through the small claims courts in each of the last three years; and if he will place in the Library the number of cases pursued through each such court in the last three years.

Mr. John M. Taylor

The term "small claims court" refers to the arbitration procedure in the county courts. Until March 1994 only the total number of arbitrations heard in each county court was recorded. Statistics on arbitrations are now collected by nature of claim—for instance, personal injury—and the figures for the last nine months of 1994 will be published in "Judicial Statistics Annual Report 1994".