MoJ unmoved by MPs’ damning verdict on court fee hikes

The Ministry of Justice shows no sign of backing down over court fee hikes, despite a damning verdict from an influential group of MPs.

The Commons justice committee called in June for an overhaul of employment tribunal fees and the scrapping of this year’s increase in the divorce petition fee.

The government initially stood firm on the necessity of the fees – and a full response to the committee now suggests that position has not changed.

In its response, itself published two months late, the MoJ continues to maintain that interested parties must wait for any announcement on employment tribunal fees until the completion of the review.

There is still no date provided for when this review, intended to be made public at the end of 2015, will be published.

In response to calls to reduce the divorce fee, which increased by 34% to £550 in March, the government is unmoved.

‘Although it is too soon to draw any firm conclusions, there is no evidence so far that the fee increase has led to a fall in applications for a divorce,’ said the MoJ response.

‘Overall, we believe that the fee for a divorce is reasonable when considered against the objectives, generating an estimated £12m per annum in additional fee income as a contributions to the savings required to make sure the courts and tribunals are properly funded, and access to justice is protected.’

In direct response to calls from the committee for a graduated schedule of fee payments, the government insisted this is already in place.

Bob Neill (pictured), chair of the committee, said he will raise the matter again with his colleagues after expressing dismay at the government response.

‘It is disappointing that the government response is so negative in respect of the recommendations,’ he said.

‘Perhaps more concerning is that it is almost offensively perfunctory, appearing to have been rushed out at short notice and giving little evidence of attention paid to the committee’s details evidence and analysis.’

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MoJ unmoved by MPs’ damning verdict on court fee hikes