Scottish court fees 2022-2025: consultation

Consultation questions

1. Do you agree that court fees should rise by 2% in the financial year commencing 1 April 2022 and by a further 2% in each of the following two financial years commencing 1 April 2023 and 1 April 2024?

Yes / No

Please give reasons for your view.

2. Do you have any views on the operation of the fee exemptions system? In particular, we would welcome comments on the impact of fees in relation to access to justice for party litigants with a disability.

3. The Scottish Government is seeking views on whether to exempt environmental cases within the meaning of the Aarhus Convention. Do you consider that such cases should be court fee exempt? If so, how would you define an Aarhus case? Views on fees for public interest litigation more broadly would also be welcomed.

Yes / No

Please give reasons for your view.

4. Do you have any views on fees and exemptions which you would like to share relating to group proceedings as discussed in section 2 of this consultation paper?

5. Do you have any comment on the proposed technical changes to court fee narratives detailed in section 3?

6. Do you have any other comments on the subject of this consultation paper or on the future direction of policy considerations for court fees in Scotland?

7. Do you consider that any of the proposals in this consultation paper are likely to have a disproportionate effect on people or communities who face discrimination or social exclusion owing to race, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or any other factor? If so, please specify your views on the possible impact.