HL Deb 12 January 1998 vol 584 c120WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they permit judgments of United Kingdom courts to be reported on legal databases in a manner that indicates whether such judgments have been over-ruled or distinguished in subsequent judgments; and, if not, why not.

The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)

There are no government restrictions imposed upon the reporting of judgments of United Kingdom courts on legal databases. It is for database owners to decide whether it is commercially viable to include information that indicates whether a judge has been over-ruled or distinguished and government do not influence this.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What restrictions they impose upon the reporting of judgments of United Kingdom courts on legal databases.

The Lord Chancellor

There are no government restrictions imposed upon the reporting of judgments of United Kingdom courts on legal databases.