28. Mr. J. Enoch Powellasked the Attroney-General if he will publish a discussion paper on jury trial in Northern Ireland of civil cases which are tried without jury in England and Wales.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralIt is clear from informal consultations with the judiciary, the legal profession, industry, trade unions and other interested persons and bodies that no agreement would at present be reached on proposals to change the law on jury trials in civil actions in Northern Ireland. However, the Northern Ireland Supreme Court Rules Committee is considering amendments to the rules of court on lodgment and on the pre-trial 601W exchange of medical reports which, if adopted, could increase the proportion of cases which are settled before going to trial and hence reduce costs.