§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many lawyers are employed by his Department; and how many were employed in 1995. [117815]
§ Mr. SpellarOn 31 March 1995, the Ministry of Defence employed 99 Service lawyers and had 15 lawyers on loan from the Treasury Solicitor's Department. Two of the latter were employed abroad. On 31 March 2000, the corresponding numbers were 159 Service lawyers and 23 Treasury Solicitor's Department lawyers on loan, with three of the latter employed abroad. Throughout this period, my Department also used the services of other branches of the Treasury Solicitor's Department, the Crown Solicitor in Northern Ireland, the Department's solicitors in Scotland, and lawyers from private firms when their expertise could not be obtained elsewhere.