§ Mr. FraserTo ask the Attorney-General how many county courts are more than seven days behind in replying to letters.
§ The Attorney-GeneralOf the 275 county courts in England and Wales, 110 are currently taking seven days or more to reply to letters from court users. Priority is given to urgent correspondence. In the remaining 165 courts replies are currently sent within seven days.
§ Mr. FraserTo ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions, for cases arising, respectively, in 1987, 1988 and 1989, the Lord Chancellor has paid compensation to county court users for loss occasioned as a result of the negligence of court officials; and in how many cases over the same period a claim has been made but payment refused.
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§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Lord Chancellor has paid compensation to county court users for loss occasioned as a result of the negligence of court officials in matters for which he is responsible, on the following number of occasions (by financial year):
Cases 1986–87 300 1987–88 377 1988–89 359 No figures in respect of claims refused are readily available and such information can be extracted only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. FraserTo ask the Attorney-General what is the average interval between the lodging of a bill for taxation in Bow county court and the taxing of the bill.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe average interval between the lodging of a bill for taxation in Bow county court and the notification of the taxation to the parties is six to nine weeks in respect of civil bills and 12 weeks in respect of matrimonial bills. The length of interval is due to delays in the administrative part of the process: consultation is in hand with local solicitors to discuss ways of improving the position.
§ Mr. FraserTo ask the Attorney-General which class of post Wandsworth county court uses for the dispatch of letters; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralWandsworth county court dispatches its letters by second-class post. This is in accordance with departmental practice. Certain court documents such as summonses are required by the rules governing service to be dispatched by first-class post. Chief clerks are being reminded of this requirement.