The government's use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) soared last year to 617 cases from 27 in the previous 12 months, a report from the Department for Constitutional Affairs showed last week.

Since March 2001 - when the then Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, made a pledge on behalf of government to use ADR as often as possible - various government departments have been using mediation.

David Lammy, the minister for civil justice policy, said: 'In line with the pledge and with guidance issued by the Office of Government Commerce, departments have included ADR clauses in standard procurement contracts.

'And departments are taking forward programmes of skills and awareness training, underpinned by the work of the ADR sub-group of the Government Legal Service, embedding ADR in the culture.'

Jeremy Fleming