'Small claims court' idea for libel and privacy

Bringing a case for libel or breach of privacy against the media should be made as straightforward as chasing debts at a small claims court, a Labour MP has proposed.

Chris Bryant, who last month accepted an out-of-court settlement from News International over phone-hacking, told parliament that the cost of pursuing legal action in the high court was too expensive, compared to the level of damages awarded.

Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt said Bryant's proposal for a "small claims court", offering easier access to privacy and libel trials, "may have some merit" and would be examined by the government.

Speaking at culture, media and sport questions in the House of Commons yesterday, Bryant said: "Members will know that those who have taken civil action, which is now complete, against the News of the World have faced legal bills of some £300,000, £400,000 or £500,000, yet the most that has ever been awarded by a court in a privacy case is £60,000, and many settlements have been for much less.

"Given the changes to the conditional fee agreements that the government are pushing through, may I suggest that it might be a good idea to have a small claims court for privacy and libel cases?

"Would the secretary of state support that? I do not want him to say: 'Let's wait to hear what Leveson and the Justice Secretary say'. We want to know what he thinks."

Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt replied: "Without wishing to pre-empt what Lord Justice Leveson says, I think the idea may have some merit. We will look into it and see whether it is something that we can pursue."

The government is due to publish its draft defamation bill later this month, following a public consultation last summer.

It is expected to tighten up the rules on "no-win no-fee" agreements (conditional free arrangements or CFAs). The Media Standards Trust said last November that the reforms "would effectively prevent ordinary people from getting access to the courts in defamation and privacy cases".

The Libel Reform Campaign says more than 3,000 people have written to their MPs urging them to get libel reform into the next Queen's speech in May.

The group has campaigned for libel law to be brought "up to date for the internet age", and to offer better protection to bloggers and authors writing in the public interest. It also wants the bill to tackle the problem of companies using the laws to silence criticism.

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