The Department for Constitutional Affairs has published “Civil Court Fees”, a consultation paper, which sets out proposals to:
reform the system of fee exemptions and remissions;
increase fees for civil business in magistrates’ courts; and
re-balance the fee structure in the other civil courts.
The purpose of the consultation is to identify in the package of proposals whether—
(1) the new system of fee concessions is well-targeted, simple, transparent and consistent;
(2) the re-balanced structure of civil fees provides a closer match between income and cost drivers within the system; and
(3) the particular increase in an individual fee might have specific untoward consequences.
Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and can also be obtained free on the Department’s website at: http://www.dca. gov.uk/consult/confr.htm#full. The closing date for consultation is 25 June 2007.