HC Deb 18 April 1988 vol 131 cc545-6
76. Mr. Allen

To ask the Attorney-General if he will visit the east midlands regional office of the Crown Prosecution Service.

The Attorney-General (Sir Patrick Mayhew)

I next plan to visit the offices of the Nottinghamshire area of the CPS next month. There is as yet no east midlands regional office.

Mr. Allen

When the Atorney-General visits the office, when it is in existence either in Lincoln or in Nottingham, will he pass on congratulations from his Department on the excellent service that it provides in the area? Will he learn from the prosecuting solicitor service that preceded it and re-examine the salary scales for people in the Crown Prosecution Service so that they can be brought up to the standards in that area? Will he ensure that there is no further extension of the acquittal rate by the Crown Prosecution Service because it is stretched and cannot prepare its cases properly, and often insufficient evidence is presented when the case comes to court?

The Attorney-General

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for what he said at the outset of his supplementary question. Last month I paid a short and informal visit to the Nottinghamshire office and I wholly endorse what the hon. Gentleman said about its standards. I can tell him that the Treasury has recently made an offer to the unions representing the great majority of lawyers in the Crown Prosecution Service that would secure a substantial rise in pay with immediate effect. I am confident that this will lead to a marked improvement in recruitment to the service and will better reward those who have worked with such commitment, including those in the hon. Gentleman's area, since the creation of the service.

Mr. Hind

My right hon. and learned Friend's comments on the improvement in remuneration for staff are greatly appreciated. What long-term effect does he envisage that improvement will have on recruitment and morale in the Crown Prosecution Service? Many Conservative Members are concerned about that.

The Attorney-General

I think that everyone understands that there is a shortage of lawyers generally— [Interruption.] It may be thought that there are too many lawyers in the House, but there is a shortage generally. The Crown Prosecution Service must compete in that environment. I have visited about half the CPS areas, spending a whole day in each. The increased pay now on offer from the Treasury will have an encouraging effect on recruitment and, just as important, on retention.

Mr. Vaz

Does the Attorney-General agree that one way to solve the crisis in the Leicestershire Crown Prosecution Service would be to split it from the Northamptonshire CPS, so that each operates separately and recruits separately to fill the existing vacancies?

The Attorney-General

Those two counties will benefit as much as any other area from the increased reumuneration that I have just announced. One problem has been that one of those two counties had no county prosecuting solicitors' department before the CPS was introduced, while the other did. My hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General has visited those areas. and I am confident that the problem will be overcome.