§ Vera BairdTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) in how many small claims track cases the power to remit or waive court fees was exercised in 2002–03; [155376]
(2) how many times the power under article 6 of the county court rules to excuse payment of fees for exceptional financial hardship was used in 2002–03. [155378]
§ Mr. LeslieInformation concerning the use of the powers mentioned above is not collected centrally. Information concerning the number of applications made for exemption or remission of court fees is collected but not in a manner that would enable it to be broken down as requested. During 2002–03 there were 234,872 such applications made in the county courts of England and Wales.
§ Vera BairdTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs in what percentage of cases in the small claims track(a) the complainant and (b) the defendant was legally represented in 2002–03. [155380]
§ Mr. LeslieDuring 2002–03 there were 56,988 small claims cases dealt with in the county courts of England and Wales. Based on sample data collected centrally, in just over 41 per cent. of these cases the complainant was legally represented while the comparative figure for the defendant was nearly 32 per cent.
§ Vera BairdTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the fee bands for cases in the small claims track were fixed; and what plans there are to change them. [155382]
§ Mr. LeslieThe fee bands for claims in the small claims track (claims up to £5,000) were last fixed on 1 April 2003. My Department has no plans to change the fee bands for these claims.