§ Dame Peggy FennerTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what records are kept showing the percentage of success in cases brought to county courts under the small claims procedure by small businesses;
(2) what are the implications of the rate of success achieved in cases brought to county courts by small businesses under the small claims procedure for his Department's advice to enterprise agencies on the merits of embarking on such a course.
§ Mr. CopeThe judicial statistics maintained by the Lord Chancellor's Department do not break down information on small claims at county courts by type of plaintiff. Local enterprise agencies are autonomous private sector-led organisations and it would be inappropriate for his Department to give advice to them on the merits of pursuing small claims in county courts.