§ Mr. BurnettTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many applications to have 161W housing cases rescinded from the small claims procedure have been granted since the introduction of the higher small claims limit in January 1996. [21313]
§ Mr. HoonThis information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. BurnettTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what(a) monitoring and (b) research his Department has undertaken into the impact on housing cases of the increase in the small claims limit from January 1996. [21315]
§ Mr. HoonClaims for possession, which form the overwhelming majority of housing cases, are excluded from the small claims regime. The collection of more detailed statistical information in relation to small claims was introduced by the Court Service in 1996 as part of the exercise in monitoring the effects of the rise in the limit to £3,000. One of the categories is "non-possession housing disputes". This Department has not undertaken any research specifically in connection with housing cases, however, a wider study of litigants' experiences of small claims by Professor John Baldwin was published in December 1997.
§ Mr. BurnettTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has made of the impact on(a) the volume of legal aid certificates and (b) legal aid expenditure of the increase in the small claims limit made in January 1996. [21319]
§ Mr. HoonIt is estimated that the increase in the small claims limit made on 1 January 1996, from £1,000 to £3,000, has resulted in a reduction of 18.8 per cent. in the number of certificates issued during 1996–97 for money claims (excluding personal injury claims).
Certificates issued Year Money claims (excluding PI) Annual change (per cent.) 1995–96 148,364 — 1996–97 120,492 -18.8 It is not possible to identify separately any overall savings resulting from the small claims limit.