§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the impact of the levels of court fees on impecunious litigants since the start of the Civil Justice Review; and if he will make a statement. [93730]
§ Mr. LockA new civil court fee structure was introduced on 26 April 1999, at the same time as the Civil Procedure Rules. Impecunious litigants continue either to be automatically exempt from paying fees or able to apply for fee remission or reduction. There have been minor changes to fee remission and exemption provisions: the wording of the hardship criterion is now the same in each Fees Order; Court Service guidelines on fee remission have been amended; and the automatic exemption provisions have been updated to take account of the introduction of Tax Credits. None of these changes has adversely affected the level at which relief is granted.
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to reconsider the requirements for litigants who wish to apply for reductions in court fees on the grounds of undue hardship following the Court of Appeal judgment in exparte Scarth; and if he will make a statement. [94393]
§ Mr. LockMy officials are considering whether any changes should be made to the guidelines or legislation governing fee exemption and remission, in the light of the judgment in exparte Scarth. I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as I am able to let him know what conclusions I have reached.