§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many personal injury actions were commenced in(a) the County Courts and (b) the High Court in (i) the last three months of 1996 and (ii) the first three months of 1997. [5115]
§ Mr. HoonThe question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Andrew Dismore, dated 27 June 1997:
The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of personal injury cases commenced in the county courts and the High Court.Detailed figures for personal injury actions issued are not kept centrally in the form requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, estimated figures, based on sample data, are shown below for the whole of 1996:
Number Writs and originating summonses (issued in the Royal Courts of Justice): 1,543 Summonses issued in the county courts. 253,500 No data is yet available for 1997.