HL Deb 10 July 1985 vol 466 cc309-10WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in the interests of justice and to prevent delays in the courts, they will take steps to shorten the Long Vacation.

The Lord Chancellor

There is a Long Vacation only in the High Court and the Court of Appeal, but not in the Crown Court, county court or below. In the High Court and Court of Appeal arrangements have existed for a long time now to ensure that civil business which needs to be immediately or promptly transacted is dealt with during the vacation and that the criminal division of the Court of Appeal sits during vacation when necessary. Since the passing of the Supreme Court Act 1981, provision has existed enabling the High Court and Court of Appeal to deal also with other business during vacation. Since then there has been a steady increase in the number of days when these courts or their judicial officers have been sitting. Rules of court also now enable much pre-trial and out-of-court business of the High Court to recommence at the beginning of September rather than October. I will continue to consider whether further steps would be helpful, and would remind my noble kinsman that I have recently set in train a major review of the civil justice system with a view to eliminating unnecessary cost, delays and complexity.