Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Ackner (Crossbench). It was answered on Wednesday, 15 February 2006.

Courts: Costs

Question: My Lords, no one has made reference to the fact that the provision of a civil litigation system is in the public interest, as it provides a civilised way of effectively dealing with disputes. It goes beyond the ordinary question of what the litigant gains; the public make a substantial gain. Accordingly, there should be a contribution from general taxation, and costs should not be left solely to the litigant to cover, particularly as some of the cases are decided for the general benefit and good of society.

Answer: My Lords, as I indicated in my earlier response, the taxpayer makes a significant contribution. In 2004–05, the taxpayer paid 23 per cent of the cost; I agree in that respect with the noble and learned Lord. I also agree that it is important that we make sure that people have access to justice. Hence, as I indicated, I am looking at exemptions and remissions to ensure that we have got that right for those who need that additional support.

Secondary information