§ 90. Mr. Grieveasked the Attorney-General what saying it is estimated would be effected by the transfer of undefended matrimonial cases to the county court: and how this estimate is calculated.
§ The Attorney-GeneralIt is not possible to make a precise estimate of the 215W saving, but I see no reason to revise the figure of £400,000 a year which I gave in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Lubbock) on 15th December 1965. In estimating this saving, it has been assumed that counsel will continue to appear in three-quarters of the 27,000 undefended cases now brought each year by assisted persons. Where counsel appears, a small saving can be expected on counsel's fees because of the somewhat lower fees allowed in the county court. There will probably be a saving of about £16 in the solicitor's profit costs in each case in which counsel is instructed and of about £6 where the solicitor conducts the case without counsel.—[Vol. 722, c. 1261.]