The Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO) has responded to the Civil Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) consultation on the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) Part 17 and Part 38, and Part 19.
Matthew Maxwell Scott, executive director of ACSO said: "we welcome the CPRC's commitment to streamlining the CPR. In light of the recent global political events, reviewing and striving to improve the efficacy of the CRPC could have taken a backseat. ACSO, however, acknowledges that the CPR are the backbone of civil litigation and their impact on society as a whole should not be understated.
"As litigants in person (LiPs) become more prominent within the civil justice system (due to the introduction of the Official Injury Claim portal, for example) the ease of understanding the CPR and the accessibility of the same for all individuals is vital. This is not just for lawyers, but importantly, for non-lawyers, which was originally a fundamental aim of the CPR.
"The CPRC's active decision to adopt gender-neutral pronouns is welcomed. Creating a framework which promotes inclusivity for all at the cost of very little time and effort is wholly responsible and worthwhile, being reflective of the modern age in which we live."
Finally, Maxwell Scott notes that the CPRC's drive to remove duplicated, overlapping and unnecessary content within the related parts of the CPR "will promote easier understanding for users and improve the efficiency of progressing legal matters for the benefit of all."