§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) in each of the last 10 years, how many Queen's Counsel there were, broken down by(a) regional circuit and (b) field of practice; [137332]
(2) in each of the last 10 years, how many Queen's Counsel there were in England and Wales; and how many were appointed each year; [137333]
(3) in each of the last 10 years, how many Queen's Counsel were appointed by (a) regional circuit and (b) field of practice. [137334]
§ Mr. LockThe information requested on the number of Queen's Counsel appointed is set out in the table:
Year Total in silk Number appointed each year 2000 1,072 78 1999 1,043 69 1998 1,006 60 1997 974 68 1996 925 66 1995 891 71 1994 845 77 1993 797 70 1992 760 69 1991 736 73 Information relating to the number of Queen's Counsel in practice was provided by the General Council of the Bar. They are unable to provide details regarding the Circuit or the field of practice of Queen's Counsel.
The information regarding Queen's Counsel appointed in the last five years by a) circuit and b) field of practice is listed below. Information before 1996 is not available.
546W
Queen's Counsel appointed by circuit and field of practice 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Circuits Midland and Oxford 5 1 5 5 4 North Eastern 4 4 3 4 5 Northern 4 8 3 10 3 Wales and Chester 2 — 1 4 4 Western 3 1 — 4 4 Practice types Administrative and Public Law — — 3 2 6 Banking and Financial Services 1 1 2 1 Chancery 5 4 6 2 4 Commercial and Admiralty 6 10 6 6 5 Common Law 11 11 9 7 6 Criminal 10 8 15 12 14 Defamation — — 1 1 — Employment and Industrial Relations — 3 1 1 5 European and International Law — 4 1 5 Family 4 2 1 1 3 Human Rights — — — — 1 Insolvency — — — 1 2 Intellectual Property 3 3 3 — 1 Landlord and Tenant — 2 — — 2
Queen's Counsel appointed by circuit and field of practice 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Licensing — — — 1 — Parliament Planning and Local Government 2 1 — 1 4 Pensions — — — 1 — Revenue 3 1 1 — 2 Technology and Construction 2 4 1 2 3
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which specialist Bar(a) groups and (b) associations he consults over the appointment of Queen's Counsel. [137342]
§ Mr. LockMy noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor consults the following Bar and solicitors' associations during the consultation process for the appointment of Queen's Counsel:
Bar Associations
- Administrative Law Bar Association
- Chancery Bar Association
- Commercial Bar Association
- London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association
- Criminal Bar Association
- Employment Law Bar Association
- Family Law Bar Association
- Intellectual Property Bar Association
- Local Government and Planning and Environmental Law Bar Association
- Technology and Construction Bar Association
- Parliamentary Bar Mess
- Personal Injury Bar Association
- Professional Negligence Bar Association
- Revenue Bar Association
- Bar Race Relations Committee
- Bar Sex Discrimination Committee
Specialist Solicitors Associations
- Law Society Equal Opportunities Committee
- Admiralty Solicitors Group
- Association of Personal Injury Lawyers
- Association of Pension Lawyers
- Commerce and Industry Group
- Criminal Law Solicitors Association
- Educational Law Association
- Employment Lawyers Association
- Housing Law Practitioners Association
- Insolvency Lawyers Association
- Intellectual Property Lawyers Association
- Legal Aid Practitioners Group
- London Maritime Arbitrators Association
- Local Government Group
- London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association
- London Solicitors Litigation Association
- Technology and Construction Solicitors Association
- Solicitors Association of High Court Advocates
- Solicitors European Group
- Solicitors Family Law Association.