§ Dr. Godmanasked the Attorney-General what has been the total number of cases heard in small claims courts in England and Wales for each of the last five years.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to cases which fall within the financial limit for the time being for small claims procedure in the county courts. I cannot give him precise figures, but the estimated numbers of such claims which were arbitrated in 1979–83 inclusive are shown in the following table.
Estimated number of money plaints for sums within the financial limit for the "small claims" procedure arbitrated in the years 1979 to 1983 Numbers 1979 11,620 1980 11,530 1981 16,680 1982 21,470 1983 35,890 Notes:
(1) The financial limit for the small claims procedure was raised from £200 to £500 in April 1981.
(2) Figures in the table are estimates based on a two-month sample in each year.
(3) Figures are not yet available for 1984.