§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Attorney-General whether he is satisfied that the proposal by the Inns of Court to raise the fees for admission and call to the Bar by 30 per cent. is consistent with the Government's prices and incomes policy, in view of the effect it will have on poorer students who wish to become barristers; and whether he will now take steps for the Inns' accounts to be published annually.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe fees in question are not charges for services and accordingly the criteria for increases in prices and charges published in Cmnd. 3150 do not apply. I am satisfied, however, that the increases are justified by the facilities which the Inns of Court offer to their students. The cost of admission and call to the English Bar is low when compared with the cost of qualifying in other countries, and about 50 per cent. of students are assisted by grant, scholarship or other award. I do not propose to introduce legislation to require publication of the Inns' annual accounts.