§ Lord Monsonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider that individuals who have served on a jury in a civil case described by the trial judge as a case that should never have come to court should receive full rather than nominal compensation for loss of earnings from the parties to the action.
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern)I have no plans to alter the present provision for the payment of jurors in civil cases in the way described. Jurors are entitled to financial loss allowance which is updated annually in line with the movements in average earnings. The mechanism described by the noble Lord might allow members of a jury by their verdict to influence the payment they receive and as such would be undesirable.