§ Mr. Cordleasked the Attorney-General if he will introduce appropriate legislation to enable and to ensure that all successful litigants, in civil proceedings awarded their costs by the court, should, unless the court otherwise orders for some specified reason, receive their costs calculated upon the basis of a full indemnity in respect of all costs actually and reasonably incurred by them in undertaking that litigation.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo. A successful litigant awarded costs against his opponent is already entitled on taxation to be allowed all such costs as were necessary or proper for the attainment of justice or for enforcing or defending his rights. I think that this is the right test to apply as between party and party. If the hon. Member is proposing a more generous basis, it would inevitably increase the cost of litigation, and would402W deter prospective litigants from exercising their right to take their case to court.