§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Attorney-General how many barristers on the panel of Treasury counsel received more than £200,000 in fees from public funds for the latest year for which information is available. [25055]
§ The Attorney-GeneralThere are two Treasury counsel retained for Government civil work. A supplementary panel of counsel is also maintained and used in suitable cases. Both Treasury counsel received more than £200,000 in fees from public funds in the financial year 1994–95.
There were 14 Treasury counsel based at the central criminal court to represent the Crown in serious criminal cases until Easter 1995, when three resigned having accepted appointments as Her Majesty's counsel. On the information currently available, seven of those received in excess of £200,000 from the Crown Prosecution Service over the same period. However, criminal Treasury counsel are not exclusively retained by the Crown Prosecution Service and may work for other Government Departments and undertake legal aid defence work. Information on fees from those sources can be determined only at disproportionate cost.
The information referred to is based on payments made inclusive of value added tax.
§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Attorney-General how many barristers are presently on the panel of the Treasury counsel. [25056]
§ The Attorney-GeneralThere are two Treasury counsel retained for government civil work. A supplementary panel of counsel is also maintained and used in suitable cases.
There are at present 11 Treasury counsel based at the central criminal court to represent the Crown in serious criminal cases.