§ Mrs. Ewingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what classes of cases under his regulations in English criminal legal aid administration, apart from appeals, judges act as assessors of the fees to be charged by the defence lawyer.
§ Mr. Elystan Morgan:In England and Wales, fees are now assessed by the Law Society in the case of proceedings in magistrates' courts and by the clerk of the court in the case of proceedings at assizes or quarter sessions. An assessment by the clerk may be reviewed by a taxing master at the request of the solicitor or counsel concerned, and an appeal from the taxing master's decision lies to a judge of the Queen's Bench Division where it involves a point of principle of general importance.