§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Solicitor-General how many staff were employed by the Crown Prosecution Service as(a) Grades 1–6, (b) legal assistance, (c) executive officers and (d) administrative officers; and how many in each category were (i) black and (ii) Asian. [138763]
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§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe number of staff employed by the Crown Prosecution Service in each category who have identified their ethnicity as being (i) black and (ii) Asian is summarised in the table:
Percentage Asian Black 2001 2002 2003 2001 2002 2003 Administrative Officers 5.9 5.6 6.4 5.6 5.3 5.5 Executive Officers 3.6 3.9 4.8 4.1 4.3 5.5 Legal Assistance 3.6 5.0 5.1 2.6 3.5 3.8 Grades 1–6 2.1 2.3 3.0 1.6 0.0 1.2 Grand Total 4.4 4.8 5.4 4.1 4.3 4.9 The percentages are based on the number of staff who replied to the question asking them to state their ethnicity.
§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Solicitor-General if she will make it the policy of the Crown Prosecution Service to pay fees to their legal advisers within 30 days. [138935]
§ The Solicitor-GeneralI can confirm that it is the Crown Prosecution Service's policy to pay invoices from all suppliers and service providers, including independent barristers, within 30 days of receipt of a valid claim or invoice.
Published data from the CPS Annual Report shows that in 2002–03, 81 per cent. of undisputed invoices were paid within 30 days of receipt.