Court fees pressure

Both claimant and defendant personal injury lawyers have joined the opposition to controversial government plans to hike court fees by 420%—also opposed by the Lord Chief Justice, Bar Council and Civil Justice Council. The plan is to introduce a fee of 5% of the value of the claim on claims for more than £10,000, with a cap of £10,000. The current maximum fee is £1,920. Lawyers warn that small and medium sized businesses will be unable to take debtors to court. The deadline for responses to the consultation, Proposals for further reform to court fees, is 27 February.