§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many civil actions, other than in the small claims court, have been commenced in each of the last five years by litigants in person. [157360]
§ Jane KennedyFigures showing the number of trials in the county courts conducted by litigants in person are set out in the table.
Litigants appearing in person during county court trials England and Wales figures, 1996–2000 Year Number county court trials Claimant Defendant Litigants in person 1996 19,608 2,400 3,550 1997 15,511 1,590 3,020 1998 14,202 1,080 1,900 1999 13,437 880 1,660 2000 15,397 1,230 2,280 Percentage in person 1996 19,608 12.2 18.1 1997 15,511 10.3 19.5 1998 14,202 7.6 13.4 1999 13,437 6.5 12.4 2000 15,397 8.0 14.8
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will publish guidance for those wishing to pursue civil claims as litigants in person which fall outside the scope of the small claims court. [157359]
§ Mr. LockThe Court Service publishes a comprehensive series of leaflets, which explain basic court procedures starting from making a claim to enforcement procedures. They all include information that goes beyond the small claims procedure.
The leaflets are specifically aimed at litigants in person and use plain English in a question and answer format. Since the Court Service launched its Welsh Language Scheme on 9 August 2000 some Court Service leaflets are now also available in Welsh.
The leaflets are available free from any county court office or from the Court Service website. Advice agencies such as the Citizens Advice Bureaux also supply some Court Service leaflets to their customers.