Is interest included when determining track allocation?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Sometimes
• D. Not specified.

Answer: (B)

When deciding which track a case should go on, the court uses the value of the claim, and that value is the amount claimed excluding interest and costs. Interest isn’t part of the upfront claim value because it accrues over time and isn’t a fixed amount at the start. The allocation decision needs a fixed figure to classify the case (small claims, fast track, or multi-track). Interest is dealt with later, should it be awarded, separate from the initial track choice.