Pursuant to a court order, as part of the British Coal Respiratory Disease Litigation, DBERR paid monies on account of costs to claimants' solicitors. There was overpayment of £74 million, and agreements were reached on how this would be repaid. However, a dispute arose as to whether interest was due on the overpayments.


The High Court held that the court order, and the agreement to pay costs which was
reached as a result, amounted to compulsion or a threat of compulsion. Therefore the laws