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LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Appeals (Trinidad and Tobago)
Mr. Livingstone: To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement of the Government's policy on the withdrawal of the jurisdiction of the Privy Council over appeals from Trinidad in respect of criminal matters only; and what representations he has received from the Attorney-General of Trinidad in support of such a withdrawal. [69649]
Mr. Hoon: The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is the final court of appeal of Trinidad and Tobago. It is for Trinidad and Tobago to exercise its sovereign right to decide whether or not it wishes to retain this avenue of appeal. The Government do consider, however, that if Trinidad and Tobago were to decide to withdraw from the appellate jurisdiction of the Judicial Committee, it would be appropriate first to ensure access to an appeals procedure of equivalent stature. There have been discussions to that effect between my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor and the Attorney- General of Trinidad and Tobago on several occasions.
Mr. Livingstone:
To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what discussions he has had with the Attorney-General of Trinidad on the cessation of the jurisdiction of the Privy Council over appeals from Trinidad. [69648]
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Mr. Hoon:
I have had no such discussions. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has met the Attorney-General of Trinidad and Tobago on several occasions during which various matters, including the appellate jurisdiction of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, were discussed.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) if he will list for the last year, (a) the highest figure and (b) the average figure given as the gross fee income by successful applicants for Queen's Counsel; [69360]
(3) if he will list for the last year, (a) the highest figure and (b) the average figure given as the gross fee income by all applicants for Queen's Counsel. [69356]
(2) if he will list for the last year, what was (a) the highest figure and (b) the average figure given as the gross fee income by unsuccessful applicants for Queen's Counsel; [69359]
| Highest | Average | |
|---|---|---|
| Successful applicants | 589,000 | 246,000 |
| Unsuccessful applicants | 665,000 | 165,000 |
| All applicants | 665,000 | 175,000 |
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to introduce a limit on the number of applications an individual may make for Queen's Counsel status. [69355]
Mr. Hoon: My noble and learned Friend has no plans to introduce a limit on the number of applications an individual may make for the award of Queen's Counsel.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department in each of the last five years (a) in how many civil litigation matters the use of Queen's Counsel was authorised by the Legal Aid Board and (b) of (a) how many had authorised the use of junior as well as Queen's Counsel; what were, in civil litigation cases, in each of the last five years, (i) the highest amount for an individual civil litigation case authorised to be paid to a QC, (ii) the average amount for an individual civil litigation case authorised to be paid to a QC and (iii) the highest amount paid in total to an individual QC; and if he will list in relation to each category above, the figures for criminal litigation. [69358]
Mr. Hoon: I am unable to answer the majority of that part of the question which relates to civil legal aid as the Legal Aid Board do not record separately payments to Queen's Counsel. Therefore, the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Records of the amount paid in total to an individual Queen's Counsel in respect of civil proceedings are available for the last two years only and were as follows:
| Year | £ |
|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 350,000 |
| 1997-98 | 394,952 |
For criminal legal aid in the higher criminal courts,
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| Year | £ |
|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 1,472 |
| 1994-95 | 1,349 |
| 1995-96 | 1,375 |
| 1996-97 | 1,331 |
Note:
Information is not yet available for 1997-98
(b) Information on the number of cases where junior as well as Queen's Counsel were authorised is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
| Year | £ |
|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 315,987 |
| 1994-95 | 463,849 |
| 1995-96 | 295,218 |
| 1996-97 | 561,415 |
| 1997-98 | 348,471 |
(ii) The average amount paid to QCs in each year from 1993-94 to 1996-97 was as follows:
| Year | £ |
|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 14,883 |
| 1994-95 | 20,333 |
| 1995-96 | 19,188 |
| 1996-97 | 21,069 |
Note:
Information for 1997-98 is not yet available
| Year | £ |
|---|---|
| 1993-94 | over 440,000 |
| 1994-95 | over 660,000 |
| 1995-96 | over 500,000 |
| 1996-97 | over 500,000 |
Note:
Information for 1997-98 is not yet available
(2) Payments made to individual barristers are in respect of closed cases only; that is where the case has been disposed of and all bills, including those of defence lawyers, have been determined. It should be clearly understood that any payment to an individual recorded in any year could well reflect payments received in earlier years. In those instances, payments have been aggregated in the year in which the final payment was made.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department in each of the last five years (a) how much was spent by the Government on fees to Queen's Counsel and (b) what was the highest amount paid in respect of an individual case to a single QC. [69363]
9 Feb 1999 : Column: 183
Mr. Hoon:
No central record is kept of fees paid to Queen's Counsel by the Government. The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list for each of the last five years, (a) how many (i) High Court judges and (ii) circuit judges have been appointed and (b) of (i) and (ii), how many were (A) women, (B) from ethnic minorities and (C) solicitors. [69361]
Mr. Hoon:
The table shows the figures for the numbers of women, ethnic minority practitioners and solicitors appointed as High Court Judges and Circuit Judges in each of the last five years.
| Year | Total | (a) Women | (b) Ethnic minority origin | (c) Solicitors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (i) High Court Judge appointments | ||||
| 1994 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| (ii) Circuit Judge appointments | ||||
| 1994 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 1995 | 48 | 4 | 1 | 16 |
| 1996 | 45 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 1997 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| 1998 | 37 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
Court Dress
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to review the rules relating to advocates' court dress; and if he will make a statement. [69362]
Mr. Hoon: The Lord Chancellor has no present plans to review the rules relating to advocates' court dress.
Public Trust Office
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what discussions he has had with officials from the Public Trust Office; how he monitors the performance of that office; what plans he has to review the role of the office; and if he will make a statement. [69502]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The arrangements for the Lord Chancellor's monitoring of the performance of the Public Trust Office are set out in its Framework Document. Ministerial discussions with Public Trust Office officials take place from time to time within this framework.
The Public Trust Office is a "Next Steps" Executive Agency which attained agency status in 1994. A Quinquennial Review of the Agency is due this year. The Review will be conducted by someone external to the Department, and will comprise an evaluation of the performance of the agency and a Prior Options Review which will examine all options for discharging the
9 Feb 1999 : Column: 184
agency's functions. The Review will start shortly. It will be able to take account of the forthcoming report of the National Audit Office into aspects of the work of protecting the financial welfare of people with mental incapacity, and the subsequent views of the Public Accounts Committee.
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