§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Attorney-General what is the average delay in bringing cases before the Lands Tribunal after serving notice of a dispute under the Leasehold Reform Act; and if he will take steps to reduce this waiting period.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe time taken between entering a reference and the setting down of a case for hearing depends upon the parties concerned having their documents and evidence ready. Only seven cases have so far been heard. In some of these the hearing was postponed until amending legislation in the Housing Act, 1969, came into force, and, consequently, no meaningful average can be given for the time taken between setting down and hearing. A case ready for hearing now should be heard within a period of 10 weeks to six months. It is not possible to shorten this waiting period without increasing the number of the Members or the staff of the Tribunal.