Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between George Eustice and Helen Grant

Tuesday 2nd July 2013 Commons Chamber

[George Eustice (Camborne and Redruth) (Con)]

9. What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the small claims procedure.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Mrs Helen Grant)]

In April, the Government increased the limit in the small claims track from £5,000 to £10,000, with the aim of ensuring that more claims are resolved in a way that is accessible, proportionate and cost-effective.

[George Eustice]

I am grateful for that answer and welcome the raising of the threshold from £5,000 to £10,000, but a constituent of mine has highlighted some of the difficulties people have enforcing some judgments. My constituent had a judgment in his favour for £475 against a tradesman who failed to complete a task, but never received the money; he found that his only remedy was to incur further legal and court costs. Does the Minister agree that we need to review enforcement in such cases where payment is not made?

[Mrs Grant]

My hon. Friend makes a good point. Our “Solving disputes in the county courts” consultation considered reforms to the attachment of earnings order and the third party debt recovery order. We support those reforms and will implement them as soon as resources allow. Changes have been made to the charging order and order for sale procedures, which will help both creditors and debtors.