§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Attorney-General what has been the increase in the county court caseload over the last three years; and what increases there have been over a similar period in numbers of county court(a) judges, (b) registrars and (c) administrative staff.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThere is no single measure of caseload in the county courts; the work initially comes from the commencement of proceedings, but further work results from all stages of the procedures including enforcement. The increase in the number of proceedings commenced between 1985 and 1988 was 5 per cent. The number of proceedings initiated is continuing to increase. Over the same period the number of circuit judges (who also deal with Crown Court work) and county court registrars in office on 1 April of each year increased by 7 per cent. and 19 per cent. respectively. Similarly the number of staff (including bailiffs and ushers) in post in county courts on 1 April increased by 8 per cent. between 1985 and 1988. These figures include a number of staff employed in combined court centres on county court work.