§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what(a) representations were made, (b) correspondence was had and (c) meetings were held by (i) the Lord Chancellor and (ii) the Parliamentary Secretary's predecessor about (1) the creation of the vacancy for Treasury Counsel (Common Law) in May 1997 and (2) the filling of the vacancy. [89114]
§ Mr. VazSoon after the Lord Chancellor was appointed to that office in May 1997, it became apparent to him that the then First Treasury Counsel (Common Law) should be recommended to Her Majesty for appointment as a puisne judge of the High Court. He informed the Attorney-General that this appointment would be offered. The Attorney-General and the then Solicitor-General consulted widely as to who should be appointed to the post of First Treasury Counsel, and the Lord Chancellor was among those who were consulted. Once the Attorney-General had decided who should be appointed, his Department had correspondence with the Lord Chancellor's Department to synchronise the announcement of the two appointments.
To the best of my knowledge, my predecessor was not in any way concerned with either of these appointments.