HC Deb 07 July 1997 vol 297 cc321-2W
Mr. Hill

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will estimate the total number of litigants entitled to a refund of court fees paid between 15 January and 13 March and the total cost to the Court Service of repaying fees. [6231]

Mr. Hoon

The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to write to the Hon. Member.

Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Keith Hill, dated 7 July 1997: The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the numbers of litigants entitled to a refund of court fees paid and the total cost of this to the Court Service. The information requested is unknown and could only he provided at a disproportionate cost.

Mr. Hill

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many litigants have(a) applied for and (b) were granted a refund of court fees paid between 15 January and 13 March in (i) county court proceedings. (ii) high court proceedings and (iii) family proceedings. [6234]

Mr. Hoon

The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Keith Hill, dated 7 July 1997: The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of litigants who have applied for and been granted refunds of court fees. Detailed figures of refunds of court fees to litigants in person are not held centrally, and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost. However, information is collected on the total number of refunds and is broken down into months and fees by type of fees order (County, Supreme, Family). This information is as follows but is only available for the months of March, April and May.

County Supreme Family Total
March 327 1 2,349 2,677
April 367 31 3,254 3,652
May 237 9 1,246 1,492
931 41 6,849 7,821

Mr. Hill

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many litigants in person have issued proceedings in(a) the county court, (b) the county court under the small claims procedure, (c) the High Court and (d) the Court of Appeal in each of the last five years. [6230]

Mr. Hoon

The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Keith Hill, dated 7 July 1997: The parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about proceedings issued by litigants in person over the last five years. Detailed statistics for actions instigated by litigants in person are not held centrally, and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

Forward to