§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to introduce post-appointment appraisals for Queen's Counsel. [66949]
§ Mr. HoonMy noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has no plans to introduce post-appointment appraisals for Queen's Counsel.
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) High Court judges and (b) Circuit judges appointed in each of the last five years had previously been Queen's Counsel. [66950]
§ Mr. HoonOf those judges appointed in the last five years, 37 High Court Judges and 30 Circuit Judges had previously been Queen's Counsel. The breakdown is as follows:
High Court Circuit Bench 1994 6 3 1995 12 3 1996 7 7 1997 6 10 1998 6 7
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department for each of the last five years, what was(a) the highest figure and (b) the average figure given as the gross fee income by applicants to be made Queen's Counsel who were (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful. [66957]
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the cost of the consultation procedure for the appointment of Queen's Counsel for each of the last five years; and what the total52W cost was of the staff employed in work related to the appointment of Queen's Counsel for each of the last five years. [66972]
§ Mr. HoonI list the departmental expenditure, excluding overheads, apportionable for considering applications for Queen's Counsel in each of the previous five financial years. I also list the costs incurred, excluding overheads, in relation to the appointment of Queen's Counsel for each of the previous five financial years. These are recovered by means of a fee charged for the grant of Queen's Counsel.
£ Year Departmental costs Appointment costs 1993–94 62,575 10,780 1994–95 69,824 9,940 1995–96 82,130 9,900 1996–97 80,168 10,200 1997–98 65,264 9,000
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will state, for each of the last five years(a) the average number and (b) the highest number of unsuccessful previous applications made by applicants to be made Queen's Counsel. [66971]
§ Mr. HoonThe average of unsuccessful previous applications made by applicants for Queen's Counsel in 1998 was 2.5. The highest number of unsuccessful previous applications by an applicant for Queen's Counsel in 1998 was 25. In respect of earlier years the information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to make the system of appointment of Queen's Counsel more transparent. [66975]
§ Mr. HoonMy noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has recently made the system more transparent. This year he is consulting more of the legal community than before about the suitability of candidates. Applications for silk are invited in a notice published in the national press. The policies, procedures and criteria that he applies to these appointments are published each year in a guide for applicants. The Guide for Applicants can be found on the Lord Chancellor's Department's website. The Lord Chancellor continually reviews the system with a view to making it even more transparent.
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what plans he has to recover(a) the cost of the Queen's Counsel consultation procedure and (b) the related departmental staff costs from applicants; [66973]
(2) what plans he has (a) to introduce an application fee for appointment to Queen's Counsel, (b) to review the £150 fee paid by successful applicants only and (c) to introduce an annual Queen's Counsel renewal fee. [66974]
§ Mr. HoonMy noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has no current plans to recover the departmental expenditure apportionable to the procedure for considering applications for Queen's Counsel by means of an application fee. He will, however, continue to review the situation. The £150 fee paid by successful applicants is currently under review. My noble 53W and learned Friend has no plans to introduce an annual Queen's Counsel renewal fee. The award of Queen's Counsel is by letters patent and is not subject to annual renewal.
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department for each of the last five year, what was(a) the total number of applications to
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Total number of applicants 539 492 488 500 511 Number of successful applicants 77 71 66 68 60 Number of female applicants 43 42 40 41 46 Number of successful female applicants 9 8 4 5 10 Number of applicants from an ethnic minority background 11 12 14 12 18 Number of successful ethnic minority background applicants 1 1 1 1 4 Number of solicitor applicants — — 5 6 7 Number of successful solicitor applicants — — 0 2 1 Number of applicants under 38 — — — — 3 Number of successful applicants under 38 — — — — 0 Number of applicants over 50 — — — — 95 Number of successful applicants over 50 — — — — 3 Solicitors, provided they met the eligibility criteria, have been able to apply since 1996.
With regard to applicants under 38 and over 50 the information requested prior to 1998 is not available save at disproportionate cost.