§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Attorney-General what percentage of the Crown Prosecution Service's court work is being covered by agents; what was the total of fees paid to agents in September and in October; and what is the average salary of a solicitor employed by the service to cover court work.
§ The Attorney-GeneralDuring the last quarter, July to September 1987, 45 per cent. of magistrates' court sessions were undertaken by agents. The total of fees paid to agents during September was £1,425,000; in October it was £1,209,000. It is impossible to provide an average salary figure for lawyers employed by the service to cover court work. Court work is undertaken largely by solicitors and barristers in the crown prosecutor and senior crown prosecutor grade. Salaries for these grades range from £11,603 to £16,576 and from £15,030 to £21,092 respectively and certain additional allowances are available.
§ Sir Dudley SmithTo ask the Attorney-General by what percentage the number of criminal prosecutions has changed since the introduction of the Crown Prosecution Service.
§ Mr. John PattenI have been asked to reply.
The information requested is given in tables 1 and 2 and paragraphs 5 to 7 of "Home Office Statistical Bulletin 21/87" a copy of which is in the Library.