§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will give effect to the recommendation made by Lord Woolf in his Final Report, Access to Justice, July 1996, that in judicial 133WA review proceedings, the court should have a discretion to order costs to be paid out of public funds where proceedings have been brought in the public interest.
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern)These recommendations are being considered together with those made by the Law Commission in its reportAdministrative Law: Judicial Review and Statutory Appeals (Law Corn No. 226). No final decision has yet been taken.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to ensure that the position of the litigant of modest means will be protected from the undue impact of increased fees, as recommended by Lord Woolf in his Final Report 'Access to Justice', July 1996.
§ The Lord ChancellorThe implementation of the reforms to civil procedures recommended by Lord Woolf will necessitate a review of the current fee structure to ensure that fees are charged at an appropriate level and at an appropriate point in the progression of a case. During this review full account will be taken of the position of litigants of modest means.