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Mr. Ashley
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 12 March, whether there has been any exercise of the power given to the Secretary of State in 1974 to award costs against a person appealing against a decision of the family practitioner committee; and if he will now consider relinquishing this power.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke
No, but I would wish to retain the power in case the Secretary of State should feel it necessary to award costs against a frivolous or vexatious party to an appeal or in other exceptional circumstances.