§ Mr. Brittanasked the Attorney-General whether he is proposing to appoint a Junior Treasury Counsel for common law matters.
The Attorney-GeneralMr. H. K. Woolf was on 18th July 1974 appointed Junior Counsel to the Treasury in common law matters, in succession to Mr. G. Slynn, who has been appointed a Queen's Counsel.
§ Mr. Brittanasked the Attorney-General why he has appointed a Leading Treasury Counsel; and whether there is any precedent for such an appointment.
The Attorney-GeneralI have appointed Mr. Gordon Slynn to be Leading Counsel to the Treasury. The effect of this is that the Crown will be able to instruct Mr. Slynn to advise when leading counsel's advice is needed. The Crown will also be able to instruct him to appear in court in cases in which the services of leading counsel as well as junior counsel are required. Mr. Slynn will also be available for private work.
There is no recent precedent for this appointment in England and Wales.