Liverpool County Court (Hansard, 23 March 1994)

Mr. John M. Taylor

The Liverpool county court operates a special listing system, under the control of the judiciary, which was introduced following consultation with me legal profession. The system is designed to ensure mat the majority of defended civil cases proceed to trial within 35 weeks of a defence being filed. On 16 March 1994 trials were being listed 32 weeks ahead and the number of cases where a defence had been filed and the trial was due to take place within that period was approximately 5,120. In addition there were some 420 cases of a specialist nature, which fall outside the scope of the special listing system, listed for trial within the next 70 weeks, and some 200 cases awaiting entry into the system.

The earliest available information on waiting times is from 1990 when, based only on cases disposed of by trial during the months of March and September, the average waiting time was 29 weeks compared to 32 weeks in 1993. Although no specific assessment has been made of the value for money it provides, the system was last reviewed and revised in January 1992 at which time it was considered that it continued to meet its primary objective: that of minimising delay, which the report of the Reviewing Body on Civil Justice—June 1988—identified as one of the main deficiencies in civil justice.

County court fees
Sample of changes to the more significant fees chargeable in the county courts in 1964, 1982 and 1994, giving percentage changes.
Fee and (fee number)	1964	1982	Change, 1964 to 1982 per cent.	1994	Change, 1964 to 1994 per cent.
Entering a plaint (1 in 1964, l(i) in 1982 and 1994)	£4 maximum	£35 maximum	775	£70 maximum	1,650
Service by a bailiff (4 in 1964, 2 in 1982 and 1994)	2/-	£4	3,900	£10	9,900
Taxation of costs (20(i) in 1964, 3(i) in 1982 and 1994)	l/- for every £2	5p for every £1	100	5p for every £1	100
Enforcement of a warrant of execution against goods (37 in 1964, 4(i) in 1982 and 1964)	£3 maximum	£25 maximum	733	£50 maximum	1,567
Issue of a judgment summons (50 in 1964, 4(vi) in 1982 and 1994)	£2 maximum	£5 maximum	150	£20 maximum	900
Personal search of the Registry of Country Court Judgments, per name (72(i) in 1964, 7(i) in 1982 and 1994)	2/-	£1	900	£1	900

In 1964, the County Court Fees Order in force was that of 1959 (SI 1959/1262) as amended in 1961 (twice) and 1963, the first of those amendments (SI 1961/355) affecting the sample fees above. There was a fees Order in 1982 (SI 1982/1706). That order has been further amended six times since, most recently in 1992 (SI 1992/2762).

The County Court Fees Order 1959 contained 157 separate fees, and the 1980 order 33 fees; there were 20 orders and amending orders between 1964 and 1994.

Supreme court fees
Sample of changes to the more significant fees chargeable in the Supreme Court in 1964, 1982 and 1994, giving percentage changes.
Fee and (fee number)	1964	1982	Change, 1964 to 1982 per cent.	1994	Change, 1964 to 1994 per cent.
Writ of summons (1)	£4	£50	1,150	£100	2,400
Setting down for trial (21 in 1964, 5 in 1982, 5f in 1994)	£6	£20	234	£50	734
Notice of appeal to the High Court (19 in 1964, 11a in 1982 and 1994)	£6	£15	150	£20	234
Filing a notice of appeal, Court of Appeal (62b(ii) in 1964, 27a in 1982, 27a(ii) in 1964)	£10	£15	50	£100	900
Taxation of a bill of costs: first £100 (81c(i) in 1964, 29b(i) in 1982 and 1994)	£5	£25	400	£25	400
Taxation of a bill of costs: over £100 (81c(ii) in 1964, 29b(ii) in 1982 and 1994)	1/- per £2	5p per £1	100	5p per £1	100
In 1964, the Supreme Court Fees Order in force was that of 1961 (SI 1961/2307) as amended in 1962 and 1963, though neither amendment affected the sample fees above. In 1982, the Order in force was that of 1980 (SI 1980/821) as amended in 1982 (SI 1982/1707). That order has been further