§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many libel actions have been decided by(a) a judge and (b) a jury in each of the last 10 years. [24000]
§ Mr. HoonThe information is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what conditions have to be satisfied for the courts to allow a libel action to proceed without a jury. [24036]
§ Mr. HoonIt is a matter of judicial discretion as set out in the Rules of the Supreme Court Order 33 rule 5.