§ Mr. Peter AtkinsonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if proposals to increase the small claims limit will be subject to a full consultation process; and if he will make a statement. [30948]
Mr. John M. TaylorLord Woolf consulted widely in the preparation of his interim report. In view of this, the Lord Chancellor does not intend to undertake further public consultation on whether he should implement Lord Woolf's recommendation that the limit for small claims, other than those for personal injury, should be raised to £3,000. The power to make the necessary amendments rests with the county court rule committee who, as part of its consideration of the matter, consults interested parties.
§ Mr. AtkinsonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make it his policy that any increase in the small claims court limit will be in line with the rate of inflation since July 1991. [30949]
Mr. TaylorThe present limit of £1,000 does not reflect the value of many cases which would be appropriate for disposal in the small claims forum, including straightforward claims relating to home extensions and improvements, family holidays or major car repairs. In order to make this cheaper and less formal procedure available to litigants with this type of claim it would not be sufficient simply to raise the limit in line with inflation.