Justice Minister Lord Faulks has reiterated ministers’ calls for disputes to be resolved out of court where possible. Speaking at the Civil Mediation Council annual conference last week, he said more use should be made of mediation, arbitration and conciliation. “We need to cut down on the amount of unnecessary, expensive and confrontational litigation in our society", he said. HM Courts and Tribunal Service has expanded its small claims mediation service, so that it now considers more than 10,000 referrals a year.