§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in how many failed libel actions brought since 1995 the litigant has refused to disclose to the court the identities of those who helped finance the action so that costs could be recovered; what steps the court took in each case; and if he will make a statement. [120002]
§ Mr. LockThe Lord Chancellor's Department does not keep statistics of libel cases which fail and in which the litigant has refused to disclose to the court the source of those who helped to finance the action. It is not possible to keep records of the costs outcomes of libel cases because many cases do not reach trial but are settled by agreement. In settled cases the court will not be privy to the arrangement on costs.
The question of financial support for defamation proceedings will be addressed in a consultation paper to be issued by my Department in the near future.