§ 24. Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Attorney-General what was the highest sum paid to a barrister in respect of (a) a prosecuting brief, (b) daily refreshers and (c) the highest combined total paid for a case in (i) criminal cases and (ii) civil cases in the past year; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Solicitor-General (Sir Derek Spencer)The specific answers to my hon. Friend's questions are, for criminal cases—(a) £329,000; (b) £750; (c) £545,678; and for civil cases £82,600.
High fees of that nature are paid only in a few very heavy and complex cases spread over a number of years. The average fee for a case in the Crown court paid by the Crown prosecution service in the year 1991–92 was £366.
§ Mr. GreenwayIs not my hon. and learned Friend concerned that tens of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money has been wasted on collapsed fraud and other trials? Will he urgently set up an inquiry so that we may learn the lessons of what went wrong in each case and ensure that there is no repetition?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThat money has not been wasted. By definition, the function of a trial is to test the evidence. In the Plasser case, the magistrates heard the evidence and committed for trial; the judge heard the evidence and ruled that there was no case to answer. That is the function of a criminal trial.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileDoes the hon. and learned Gentleman recognise that in the payment of ordinary fees in heavyish cases, there remains great concern at the Bar because the Government are not paying their debts to lawyers in reasonable time? Will he take steps to ensure that the central taxing units meet their targets?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralI can only advise the hon. and learned Gentleman to get a better clerk. In his next case, he will be entitled to an interim payment after 20 days. When the case is concluded, his clerk can put in a fee note for payment on account—long before it ever gets to the central taxation unit, as I know from my own experience.
§ Mr. BurnsGiven the escalating costs of justice and the importance of everyone having access to the law to redress their problems, should not the Government urgently consider introducing a no win-no fee voluntary system of justice?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralMy hon. Friend's point is already under consideration. However, life in the Crown court is rather different from what some suggest. The standard fee for a guilty plea is £113. The standard brief fee for a case that lasts up to three days, including preparation and the first day, is £217, with a refresher of £150 per day. If the case lasts three days, that means a payment of £517 for work spread over at least four days.