Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Attorney-General what steps he is taking to advertise the small claims courts; and whether he will send a letter to all firms of solicitors pointing out the existence of these courts.
§ The Attorney-GeneralMy noble and learned Friend and his officials and my hon. and learned Friend and I take every available opportunity to bring the scheme to the attention of advice giving agencies 657W especially citizens' advice bureaux and consumer advice centres as well as the public. Copies of the booklet "Small Claims in the County Court" are widely available and posters and leaflets which mention the scheme and are issued by the Office of Fair Trading are available in public libraries, citizens' advice bureaux and at other places to which the public may go for help. Articles have appeared on the scheme in most newspapers and legal and consumer periodicals. Solicitors generally are very well aware of the scheme. Accordingly my noble and learned Friend does not think that the cost of circulating solicitors' offices could be justified by the results of doing so.
Barristers Solicitors Lord of Appeal in Ordinary … … 7 — Lord Chief Justice … … 1 — Master of the Rolls … … 1 — President of the Family Division of the High Court … … 1 — Lords Justices of Appeal … … 15 — High Court Judges … … 70 — Circuit Judges … … 269 — Stipendiary Magistrates … … 41 9 Masters of the Supreme Court … … 10 14 Assistant Master, Queen's Bench Division … … 1 — Deputy Master Court of Protection … … 1 — Registrars of the Supreme Court … … 10 8 County Court Registrars … … — 131 Judge Advocate General … … 1 — Vice Judge Advocate General … … 1 — Assistant Judges Advocate General … … 8 — Deputy Judges Advocates … … 3 — President and Legal Members Immigration Appeal Tribunal … … 2 1 President and Full-time Chairmen Industrial Tribunals … … 35 22 President and Legal Members Lands Tribunal … … 3 — President Pensions Appeal Tribunal … … 1 — President Transport Tribunal … … 1 — President and Full-time Chairmen VAT Tribunals … … 3 2 Chairman and Members Foreign Compensation Commission … … 2 National Insurance Commissioners … … 8 —