In these times of increased cost of living, we are all painfully aware that salaries for the vast majority have not kept pace with inflation. Indeed, despite a fairly vigorous effort by the BMA, not even the junior doctors were able to secure an inflation pacing uplift from the government. 

So it is nice to know that the self-same government is keeping pace with inflation in other, key areas of import. Having given tax its best shot, the latest of those areas is Court and Tribunal Fees. 

We are thankfully some way off the Conservatives (very switftly aborted) plans to introduce probate fees of up to £20,000 (which was both a self-evident illegal stealth tax and, more generally, a distasteful targetting of dead poeple). However, unlike the conservatives who rightly u-turned on their 'proposal', I suspect these changes will stick. 

In some defence of the government, running an efficient Court and Tribunal Service (and the probate service really has improved over the past few months thanks to much needed hiring) is costly and these increases are most likely entirely necessary and, thankfully, a significant way off the changes proposed by the Conservatives. 

To end that defence, whilst many fees are being increased in line with inflation, probate fees are increasing by over 75% (easy target etc). 

If you would likew to read more about this, the Gazette has covered it nicely.