§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the role of hearing costs in settlements resulting from serious road traffic accidents. [650251]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe settling of a dispute of any kind is a private matter between the parties and the court has no role in determining the basis on which the parties settle. Where the parties to a dispute have reached an agreement on all issues, including which party is to pay costs, but have not agreed the amount of those costs, then if they both agree, they may start "costs only" proceedings, whereby the court will determine the level of costs payable. This procedure was introduced in July 2000.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what discussions she has had with representatives of the(a) legal profession and (b) insurance industry on bringing quicker settlements to cases where a serious injury has been sustained as a result of a road traffic accident. [65024]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonMinisters and officials of this Department have regular discussions with both the legal profession and the insurance industry. However, since the introduction of the Civil Procedure Rules in April 1999,
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Judicial appointments 1 May 1997 to 21 June 2002 Total Women Black Asian Lords of Appeal in Ordinary 5 0 0 0 Heads of Divisions (excluding Lord Chancellor) 4 1 0 0 Lords Justices of Appeal 20 2 0 0 High Court Judges 52 3 0 0 Circuit Judges (including Judges of the Technology and Construction court) 208 37 1 0 Recorders1 389 66 1 6 Assistant Recorders2 381 64 7 6 District Judges (including Family Division) 156 40 1 5 Deputy District Judges (including Family Division) 470 129 2 4 District Judges (Magistrates court) 15 5 0 0 Deputy District Judges (Magistrates courts) 111 21 2 1 Immigration Appeals Tribunal Vice Presidents 15 3 1 1 Immigration Appeals Tribunal Part-time Legal Members 46 6 0 2 Fill-time Immigration Adjudicator 60 17 2 3 Part-time Immigration Adjudicator 492 147 15 23 Fill-time Chairman Employment Tribunal 58 7 2 2 Part-time Chairman Employment Tribunal 202 50 4 3 Fill-time Chairman Appeals Tribunal 65 24 1 1 Part-time Legal Panel Members Appeals Tribunal3 767 257 5 9 1Those appointed on promotion from Assistant Recorder on merit, but not including those promoted automatically to Recordership because of the abolition of the post of Assistant Recorder. It also includes those appointed direct to Recordership under the new arrangements after April 2000. 2Those appointed as Assistant Recorders prior to the abolition of the post of Assistant Recorder in April 2000. 3Includes re-appointments. the specific issue of quicker settlement of disputes concerning injuries sustained in a road traffic accident has not been discussed.