§ Mr. Michael Forsythasked the Attorney-General if he will list for each year since 1978–79 the total number of appointments of all kinds it fell within the power of the Law Officers to make, whether or not such appointments actually fell to be made in the year in question.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralIt falls to my right hon. and learned Friend to nominate counsel, whether generally as standing counsel or specifically for particular cases, to represent the Crown or a Government Department in legal proceedings or inquiries, or otherwise to assist the court or tribunal as counsel in such matters. The number of such nominations varies from year to year, and I could not, without disproportionate cost, ascertain how many were made in any particular year. Apart from these nominations, there is no appointment which falls within the Attorney-General's power to make.
§ Mr. Michael Forsythasked the Attorney-General if he will list for each year since 1978–79 the total number of appointments of all kinds it fell within the power of the Lord Chancellor to make, whether or not such appointments actually fell to be made in the year in question.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe Lord Chancellor's powers of appointment are wide and include members of the higher judiciary, the circuit bench and recorders, the lower judiciary, Queen's counsel, legal and lay members of tribunals and inquiries, lay magistrates and general commissioners of income tax, and legal and lay members of non-departmental public bodies. The cost of listing the total number of all such appointments would be disproportionately high.