ALR and others -v- Chancellor of the Exchequer (order)

Administrative CourtCivilHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionTransmission Direction Order

Claim number: AC-2024-LON-004232

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division
Administrative Court

27 March 2025

Before:

Dame Victoria Sharp (President of the King’s Bench Division),
Lord Justice Newey
and
Mr Justice Chamberlain

Between:

The King
on the application of
ALR (by their litigation friend ASG) and others
(Claimants)

-v-

Chancellor of the Exchequer
(Defendant)

and

(1) Commissioners of His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
(2) Speaker of the House of Commons
(Interested Parties)

and

Secretary of State for Education
(Intervener)

AND BETWEEN

Claim number: AC-2025-LON-000053

The King
on the application of
ALX (by their litigation friend ALF) and others
(Claimants)

-v-

Chancellor of the Exchequer
(Defendant)

and

1) Commissioners of His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
(2) Speaker of the House of Commons
(Interested Parties)

and

Secretary of State for Education
(Intervener)

AND BETWEEN

Claim number: AC-2025-LON-000133

The King
on the application of
Emmanuel School and others
(Claimants)

-v-

Chancellor of the Exchequer
(Defendant)

and

1) Commissioners of His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
(2) Speaker of the House of Commons
(Interested Parties)

and

Secretary of State for Education
(Intervener)

Order

NOTING that these claims (which seek declarations of incompatibility under s. 4 of the Human Rights Act 1998 in respect of the provisions of the Finance Act 2025 imposing VAT on private school fees) are listed for a rolled-up hearing on 1-3 April;

OF THE COURT’S OWN MOTION IT IS ORDERED as follows:

  1. Any request for a direction under section 85A(3)(b) of the Courts Act 2003 (‘a transmission direction request’) by any person not taking part in the proceedings (‘an applicant’) for permission to watch or listen to the proceedings remotely must be made by 2pm on Monday 31 March 2025.
  2. Any transmission direction request should be sent by email to Danielle.Jarvis@justice.gov.uk and must include the following:
    a. the full name of the applicant;
    b. the email address of the applicant;
    c.information as to whether the applicant would be located in England and Wales at all times when attending the proceedings remotely (if a transmission direction were to be made); and, if not, details of the applicant’s location;
    d. any information the applicant wishes to provide in support of the request, including in particular any reason(s) why it is contended that making such a direction would be in the interests of justice; and
    e. a statement by the applicant in the following terms:

“If permitted to attend the hearing remotely, I understand that I must not record or transmit what I see and hear. I understand that it is an offence and may be a contempt of court to do so, and that I may be punished if I were to do so.”

  1. Unless exceptionally the Court otherwise directs, a transmission direction request made otherwise than in accordance with this Order will not be granted.

REASONS

This order is made to ensure that any transmission direction requests are made in a timely manner to enable them to be considered and determined prior to the hearing, and to ensure that any such requests are accompanied by the necessary information.

27 March 2025

BY THE COURT