§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Attorney-General how many full- and part-time appointments, respectively, are made by him and his noble Friend, respectively, which are not subject to regulation by the Civil Service Commission; what is the total sum paid annually as salary and expenses for such appointments; and if he will take steps to reduce the number of such posts.
§ The Attorney-GeneralAs regards my own appointments, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan) on 19th May 1977.
My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor makes 760 full-time appointments at a cost to central Government funds of approximately £10,036,700 for salaries and £501,700 for expenses; and about 34,800 part-time appointments costing approximately £1,305,300 for fees and £354,400 for expenses. The number of full-time appointments, and their cost, includes 443 members of the judiciary appointed by the Crown on the advice of my noble Friend and paid out of the Consolidated Fund. The number of part-time appointments includes 774 ad hoc appointments as deputy judges. It also includes about 24,100 justices of the peace in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 4,477 General Commissioners of Income Tax. The annual cost stated excludes that falling on the funds of authorities and Departments other than that of my noble Friend in respect of the lay magistracy and of the salaries, fees 422W and expenses of 99 full-time and 2,294 part-time appointments to administrative tribunals.
The numbers of appointments to be made are kept under review, and my noble Friend and I ensure that there are no more than are needed for the work to be done. In many instances the number is controlled by statute.