HC Deb 29 November 1999 vol 340 cc62-4W
Mr. Corbett

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what would have been the hourly rate for legal aid work in magistrates courts had fees been raised annually in line with inflation, detailed by each year, in each of the last five years. [100470]

Mr. Lock

The majority of magistrates court criminal cases are paid for by a standard fee. Hourly rates are paid on non standard cases. Of cases receiving criminal legal aid, 9 per cent. are currently paid by non standard fees and account for 35 per cent. of expenditure. Although hourly rates have not increased during the period in question, the average amount paid in a case has increased from £1,554 to £1,649. Had the hourly rates increased in line with inflation, the rates would be as detailed.

Mr. Lock

The available information is as follows:

The figures for the number of appointments made since May 1997 and the further breakdown by gender, ethnic background and professional background are detailed in the table.

Full-time appointments made since May 1997, classified by gender, ethnic and professional background
Post Appointments made Number of females Number of ethnic minority background Solicitors
House of Lords 4 0 0 0
Court of Appeal 11 1 0 0
High Court 19 2 0 0
Circuit Bench 71 12 1 4

Mr. Dismore

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many vacancies for judicial appointments there were in the(a) House of Lords, (b) Court of Appeal and (c) High Court in each of the last three years. [100418]

Mr. Lock

From the information available the number of vacancies for judicial appointments in the House of Lords, Court of Appeal and the High Court for the past three years is as follows:

House of Lords Court of Appeal High Court
1996 2 2(3) 9
1997 2 5 7
1998 2 2 5(2)
1999 1 4 5(1)

Note:

The figures in brackets represent additional appointments. In 1996 there were three additional appointments to the Court of Appeal. In 1998 there were two additional appointments to the High Court and in 1999 there was one additional appointment to the High Court. These appointments were additional in that they did not arise from vacancies caused by promotion or retirement.

Mr. Dismore

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when Sir Leonard Peach was commissioned to conduct his inquiry into the procedures for appointing judges and QCs; by what date he was asked to report; and when the Lord Chancellor expects to receive the report. [100446]

Jane Kennedy

The Lord Chancellor announced on 27 July 1999 that he had appointed Sir Leonard Peach to provide a report on the operation of the appointments procedures. At that time Sir Leonard expected to report during the last quarter of the year. The Lord Chancellor expects to receive the report soon and for it to be published before Christmas.

Mr. Dismore

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to advertise for candidates for the eight new vacancies on the High Court Bench approved on 23 November. [100414]

Mr. Lock

My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor does not advertise vacancies on the High Court Bench on an individual basis. However, the Lord Chancellor has placed advertisements indicating that he welcomes applications from practitioners who wish to put themselves forward for appointment to the High Court Bench and continues to welcome such applications.

In the light of the statutory instrument passed in the House of Commons on 23 November, my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor is considering if it is appropriate to place further advertisements in order to encourage suitably qualified and experienced Barristers and Solicitors to put themselves forward for appointment to the High Court.