asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many actions for the recovery of money were commenced by her Department in the last 12 months for which the figures are available in the High Court and the county courts, respectively; what was the total sum for which judgments were obtained in each court, respectively; and what percentage of these totals was actually recovered in respect of each court.
In the 12 months ended 31st December 1974 the Department commenced civil action in the High Court in 2,407 cases and in the county courts in 134 cases. Figures are not available of the total sums for which judgments were obtained or of the percentage of those sums recovered, but during 1974 £721,884·34 was recovered in the High Court and £29,386·27 in the county court in respect of actions commenced during 1974 and previous years.