HC Deb 17 March 1998 vol 308 cc565-6W
42. Mr. Dismore

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the civil justice review. [33196]

Mr. Hoon

The Government plan to introduce fundamental reform to the civil justice system, making it quicker, cheaper and more certain. The reforms will benefit everyone. Procedures and rules will be simplified, and judicial case management will provide tailored procedures and minimise delay. Pre-action provisions will enable many claims to be settled faster.

We have already announced that implementation will take place in April 1999, and work is progressing as planned.

Mr. Dismore

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he intends to publish the research on legal aid and civil justice reforms carried out by KPMG and the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. [33963]

Mr. Hoon

The KPMG analysis of the business case for a solicitors firm undertaking litigation using conditional fees will be published in the next few weeks. It will indicate that conditional fees offer profitable business to lawyers even where they, rather than their clients, meet the up-front costs of insurance and running the case. I anticipate publishing the research, carried out by the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in due course once we have completed consideration of costs regimes in the fast track.

Mr. Dismore

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he intends to publish his proposals on civil justice reform, with particular reference to the costs regime in the fast track. [33964]

Mr. Hoon

I would expect to make an announcement about a costs regime in the fast track after Easter.