§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Attorney-General whether he is satisfied with the operation of the small claims procedure in the county court in England and Wales; and what plans the Government have for amendment of the procedure.
§ The Attorney-GeneralA factual study of the small claims procedure, carried out as part of the Lord Chancellor's civil justice review, indicates that the procedure is generally working well and that there is a high level of satisfaction among those who have used it. Any recommendations for reform will be contained in a report of the review as a whole which is due to be put before the Lord Chancellor in early 1988.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Attorney-General how many cases, for the most recent five years for which figures are available, were dealt with under the small claims procedure in the county courts of England and Wales.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe numbers of arbitration cases heard under the small claims procedure in county courts in the years 1982 to 1986 are shown in the table.
Number of arbitration cases heard under the small claims procedure in county courts in England and Wales, 1982–86 Year Number 1982 31,609 1983 39,266 1984 43,576 1985 44,652 1986 44,670
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Attorney-General if he will estimate the additional cost to public funds in operating the small claims procedure in the county court in England and Wales if disputes currently referred to outside arbitration in accordance with compulsory arbitration clauses in contracts with consumers were instead, at the option of the consumer, made subject to disposal through the county court.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo accurate information is available as to the number of disputes currently referred to outside arbitration of the number which falls within the limits of the small claims procedure. It is therefore not possible to estimate the possible additional cost to public funds of handling these cases in the county courts.