Litigators have reacted with disappointment to news that the new Supreme Court will charge a minimum fee of £350 to access court documents.

Critics have lashed out after news emerged that members of the public wishing to see court records will now face an application fee of £350, with many claiming that the payment requirement will be detrimental to the court's stated aim of greater transparency.

The new court – which was launched last month as a replacement for the House of Lords as the final court of appeal in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – is open to the public and features permanent television cameras.

Commenting on the news, CMS Cameron McKenna litigation head Tim Hardy said: "It sounds as an exorbitant fee, which could deter anybody but the wealthy or very committed from looking for information. It seems strange that there should be a fee charged to all applications. If the Supreme Court is going to be an open court, then it is a matter of public record."

The Supreme Court defended its stance, saying that the fee concerns documents that contain sensitive personal and commercial information which parties may not wish to be made public.

A court spokesman also said there has been no change in fee policy and that the same process applies in the Court of Appeal, which charges a £200 fee for document applications.

An Ministry of Justice statement said: "Court rules (made by the President of the Court) provide that an application can be made for access to court records which contain sensitive personal and commercial information. Such applications are subject to a fee, which was up-rated to reflect inflation following a public consultation. The fees were last amended in 2000."

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