House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement
Access to Justice update
04 March 2024 · Ministry of Justice
Proposed by Alex Chalk Con Cheltenham
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
At a glance
Key points
- Government addressing impacts of PACCAR judgment on third-party litigation funding
- Legislation to be introduced to enhance access to justice in England and Wales
- Proposed law will allow third-party litigation funding to restore competitiveness in commercial litigation
Issue summary
The government is addressing the impacts of the UK Supreme Court's PACCAR judgment that rendered third-party litigation funding agreements unenforceable.
Action requested
Legislation will be introduced in this parliamentary session to enhance access to justice and maintain the competitiveness of the England and Wales jurisdiction for commercial litigation, by allowing third-party litigation funding again.
Key facts
- The UK Supreme Court judgment rendered third-party litigation funding agreements unenforceable in July 2023.
- Third-party litigation funding is crucial for big and complex claims against corporations.
- The Post Office Horizon scandal highlighted the importance of such funding for access to justice.
- The new legislation will apply to all proceedings and promote access to justice.
- The UK legal sector contributes over £34 billion per annum to the UK economy.
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