Lord Morrisasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have reached a decision on the proposals to increase the limit of county court jurisdiction contained in the consultative paper issued by the Lord Chancellor in July 1980.
The Lord ChancellorI have now considered the response to the consultative paper. It is my intention, subject to Parliamentary approval, to increase the upper limit of county court jurisdiction from £2,000 to £5,000. The registrar's trial jurisdiction will be increased from £200 to £500 and the limit in equity proceedings from £15,000 to £30,000.
I also propose other changes. At present if a plaintiff in the High Court recovers less than £350 he cannot recover any costs at all from the other side, and if he recovers between £350 and £1,200, he recovers only the costs which would have been recoverable in county court proceedings. I propose to increase these figures to £600 and £3,000 respectively. I propose that the increase should come into operation in the late summer, but I shall not seek to bring this about until progress has been made on changes in the county court costs rules which I hope can be made at the same time.
House adjourned at twenty-five minutes before nine o'clock.