§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action he is taking to improve procedures for the recovery of debts due as a result of court judgments; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. TaylorBoth the Lord Chancellor and I are committed to improving the efficiency of the court system through simplifying and streamlining procedures, reducing paperwork and reducing the need to attend court. In my answer to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 18 February 1994, column1006, I mentioned the changes to county court procedures made in recent years and the plans for the introduction of some minor amendments to debt recovery procedures later this year. In addition, work is currently being done to improve the oral examination procedure with a view to introducing the new system by the beginning of 1995. There are also plans to look at ways of simplifying and improving the garnishee and charging order procedures later this year. Any proposed changes will be subject to our usual wide-ranging public consultation and it would not, therefore, be appropriate to make a statement about these initiatives at this stage.