Civil Court Users Association (CCUA) has responded to the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) ‘Proposal for Reform – Alignment of the Fees for Online and Paper Civil Money and Possession Claims’, which can be read in full here.
Length of time for reply
Before addressing the proposals themselves, we wish to query why there has been such a short period for response, especially given that it concludes in the midst of a holiday period when many potential will not be working? We have been responding to consultations for many years. It is recalled that some years ago there was a consultation on how consultations would be conducted in the future, during which it was proposed that there should generally be 13 weeks period for response, only to be shortened in urgent or otherwise exceptional circumstances. This consultation is less than 6 weeks long, with additional elements added part way through with less than 3 weeks remaining for response. There is no explanation regarding the urgency, nor the apparently hurried and piecemeal way it has been presented, nor why it terminates in the middle of a holiday period. Why has this been necessary?
It appears deeply troubling that such proposals would be presented in this manner, giving a far reduced opportunity for consideration and response.
For maximum impact, the committee would urge as many individual members as possible to respond to the consultation in your own names here before the deadline on 30th December. There are only 6 questions to answer. If you agree, we would request that you state your support for the Association’s response and particularly the call for a full fee review.
