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Publication of Claimant Data in County Court Judgments

14 June 2023

Lead MP

Janet Daby
Lewisham East
Lab

Responding Minister

Mike Freer

Tags

Northern IrelandForeign AffairsStandards & Ethics
Word Count: 2546
Other Contributors: 1

At a Glance

Janet Daby raised concerns about publication of claimant data in county court judgments in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key Requests to Government:

Ms Daby asks the Minister to agree to rectifying an omission in the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines Regulations 2005 to publish claimant data, as this requires no funding or primary legislation but can reduce court inquiries by approximately 100,000 per year.

How the Debate Unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:

Lead Contributor

Lewisham East
Opened the debate
Ms Janet Daby is concerned about the omission of claimant data in county court judgments, which prevents defendants from knowing who has taken them to court. This omission can lead to delays and additional burdens for financially vulnerable individuals trying to settle their debts within a 30-day window, potentially resulting in long-term financial repercussions such as mortgage rejections and insurance lapses. She also notes that the Registry Trust could manage claimant data without significant additional effort.

Government Response

Mike Freer
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under the chairmanship today. I thank Janet Daby for securing this debate, acknowledging her focus on enhancing data provided by the Registry Trust to protect households in financial difficulty. The Government are considering supporting the proposal to include claimant data on the register of fines, orders and judgments in England and Wales, as is done in Scotland and Northern Ireland. This could provide greater transparency about creditors using county courts, help regulators monitor firm treatment of vulnerable customers, and offer insights into problem debt sources for academics and debt advice providers. The Registry Trust holds over 6 million records with daily updates, supporting millions of business decisions each year. Including claimant data can identify aggressive firms in enforcement action and assist utility and telecom regulators in monitoring policies for consumers in financial difficulty. Transparency would also help individuals who default due to not receiving claims timely, potentially saving courts time and leading to quicker debt resolution. However, the Government must ensure it does not expose consumers to risks such as criminal exploitation of data. The minister commits to moving this forward at pace.
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About Westminster Hall Debates

Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.