§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will introduce a scheme of compensation for legal costs incurred in abortive appeal hearings where the court service or Government Departments are responsible for delays.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe Department is prepared to consider claims for compensation where loss is sustained through maladministration by court officers in matters for which the Lord Chancellor is responsible.
Where loss is sustained as a result of the actions of one of the parties or of another Government Department it is open to the party who has sustained the loss to apply for an order for costs in cases where it is appropriate to do so.