HC Deb 04 February 1976 vol 904 cc623-4W
Mr. Gordon Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by what percentages in each of the last five years court and legal aid fees payable, respectively, to advocates and solicitors have been increased; and if he will express these figures also in ratio to the rise of inflation in each year.

Mr. William Ross

So far as advocates are concerned, there is no prescribed scale of fees for non-legally aided work. A scale of fees for legally aided work came into effect on 1st March 1971. The only adjustment since then came into force on 9th October 1974, with the overall effect of increasing fees by approximately 23.4 per cent., in line with guidance given by the Price Commission. In the period from March 1971 to October 1974, the retail price index rose by 46 per cent.

Since 1971, the only increase in solicitors' fees for legal aid work in court cases has been a 30 per cent. increase, with effect from 1st September 1975, in the tables of fees for judicial proceedings prescribed by the Court of Session. In the period February 1971 to September 1975 the retail price index rose by 82 per cent.

Mr. Gordon Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the increase in civil court fees authorised by the Lord President of the Court of Session in each year.

Mr. William Ross

The fees payable to solicitors for judicial proceedings in civil cases in the Court of Session and the sheriff courts are contained in Acts of Sederunt, which are published as Statutory Instruments. They are also reproduced in the Parliament House Book and in the Scottish Law Directory.

The relative Acts of Sederunt at present in force are:

COURT OF SESSION FEES

Act of Sederunt (Rules of Court Amendment No. 5) 1970 (SI 1970 No. 1746). *Act of Sederunt (Rules of Court Amendment No. 2) 1975 (SI 1975 No. 1106).

SHERIFF COURT FEES

Act of Sederunt (Authorisation of Sheriff Court Fees) 1971 (SI 1971 No. 90). *Act of Sederunt (Authorisation of Sheriff Court Fees) 1975 (SI 1975 No. 1148). * These instruments had the effect of increasing the fees prescribed in 1970 and 1971 by 30 per cent. with effect from 1st September 1975.