HC Deb 19 March 2003 vol 401 cc860-2W
Joyce Quin

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many litigants in person there were in court proceedings in each of the last 10 years.[103238]

Yvette Cooper

The following table has the available information on the number of litigants appearing in person in the county courts and Queens Bench Division of the High Court.

Litigants appearing in person during county court trials and small claims hearings England and Wales figures 1994–2002 Trials—County court
Litigants in person Percentage in person
Number of county court trails Claimant Defendant Claimant Defendant
1994 24,219 5,570 7,500 23.0 31.4
1995 24,477 1,600 3,930 6.5 16.1
1996 19,608 2,400 3,550 12.2 18.1
1997 15,511 1,590 3,020 10.3 19.5
1998 14,202 1,080 1,900 7.6 13.4
1999 13,437 880 1,660 6.5 12.4
2000 15,397 1,230 2,280 8.0 14.8
2001 13,430 700 1,140 5.2 8.5
2002 12,294 960 1,440 7.8 11.7

Trials-High court (Queens Bench)
Litigants in person Perecentage in person
Number Queen's Bench trials Claimant Defendant Claimant Defendant
1994 4,420 90 70 2.0 1.6
1995 4,369 90 80 2.1 1.8

Note:

Figures not collected after 1995

Small Claims
Litigants in person Percentage in person
Number small claims hearings Claimant Defendant Claimant Defendant
1994 71,822 Figures not collected
1995 88,170 Figures not collected
1996 94,050 57,240 64,000 60.9 68.0
1997 97,813 43,460 69,910 44.4 71.5
1998 98,692 53,180 69,920 53.9 70.8
1999 88,389 42,250 54,640 47.8 61.8
2000 55,836 28,680 36,240 51.4 64.9
2001 58,333 28,670 35,500 49.1 60.9
2002 55,719 31,890 37,160 57.2 66.7

Note:

The numbers in italics are weighted figures based on sample data and have been rounded to the nearest 10.