To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects to announce the conclusions of his review into the operation of conditional fee agreements following the end of the consultation contained in paper CP4/09, “Controlling costs in defamation proceedings”. (292084)

We are not currently undertaking a review into the operation of conditional fee agreements.

The consultation paper CP4/09 “Controlling costs in defamation proceedings” proposed a number of specific measures aimed at controlling the costs of defamation and some other publication related proceedings.

I have made a written ministerial statement today confirming that the response to that consultation paper was issued on 24 September 2009. Copies of the response paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The paper is also available on the Ministry of Justice website at:

www.justice.gsi.gov.uk

Copies have also been made available in the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office.

Lord Justice Jackson has been appointed by the Master of the Rolls to undertake a review of the rules and principles governing the costs of civil litigation. He is considering the operation of conditional fee agreements as part of this review. Ministers will consider the review’s recommendations when they are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects to publish the responses received to the consultation paper CP4/09, “Controlling costs in defamation proceedings”. (292088)

I have made a written ministerial statement today confirming that the response to the consultation paper “Controlling costs in defamation proceedings” CP4/09 was issued on 24 September 2009.

Copies of the response paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The paper is also available on the Ministry of Justice website at:

www.justice.gsi.gov.uk

Copies have also been made available in the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what reports he has received of the outcome of the second stage of the review by Sir Rupert Jackson of the (a) costs of litigation and (b) operation of conditional fee agreements in England and Wales; and when he expects the (i) first draft and (ii) final draft of Sir Rupert’s report to be available. (292090)

Lord Justice Jackson was appointed by the Master of the Rolls in January 2009 to lead a fundamental review of the rules and principles governing the costs of civil litigation. Ministers have received a copy of the preliminary report published on the 8 May 2009. Lord Justice Jackson has indicated that his final report will be delivered to the Master of the Rolls by the 31 December 2009 and Ministers expect to receive a copy of the report early in the New Year.