HC Deb 19 December 1986 vol 107 cc767-8W
Mr. Fatchett

asked the Attorney-General what representations he has received about pay anomalies for those employed by the Crown Prosecution Service; and if he will make a statement.

The Attorney-General

I understand that a number of representations about pay anomalies for those employed within the CPS have been received by the Director of Public Prosecutions and his officials. The point has also been raised by several staff in conversation with my right hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General who is presently undertaking a series of visits to CPS areas. Careful consideration has been given to the issues raised and a discussion paper proposing possible approaches to pay differences was circulated to chief crown prosecutors and trade unions for comment. The director is presently considering the responses received and expects to notify his proposals to chief crown prosecutors and trade unions within the next few days.

Mr. Fatchett

asked the Attorney-General on how many occasions since 1 April agents have been instructed to act on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service; and at what cost.

The Attorney-General

The total number of occasions on which agents have been instructed to act on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service during the period 1 April to 30 November is about 31,000.

The cost of these instructions using average national costs is about £2.8 million.

Mr. Fatchett

asked the Attorney-General what has been the cost of seconding qualified lawyers to the London area of the Crown Prosecution Service.

The Attorney-General

The cost of seconding qualified lawyers from other areas of the CPS to the London area for the period 1 April to 30 November is about £430,000.

As well as the travel and subsistence costs of the seconded lawyers, this figure includes the additional costs of employing agents to undertake the work of the seconded staff. But agents would have been employed in London in the absence of seconded lawyers and this element of the total cost does not represent net additional expenditure.

Mr. Fatchett

asked the Attorney-General how many prosecutions have had to be dropped because of the failure of the crown prosecution service to be in a position to proceed.

The Attorney-General

The ability of the prosecution to proceed with any particular case on a particular occasion is likely to depend on a number of variable factors—many of which relate to other agencies within the criminal justice system (for example, police, forensic science service and sometimes the defence) and are beyond the control of the director. They include (by way of example only) the availability of witnesses at the time and date specified by the court and the ability of the police to make contact with and notify those witnesses; it frequently occurs that the crown prosecution service is notified only shortly before a hearing that a particular witness is required. In such circumstances it may be necessary to seek an adjournment.

There have been instances when the prosecution has not been in a position to proceed and the court has refused an adjournment thus obliging the prosecution to discontinue. No record is kept of such instances separate from cases discontinued for other reasons. But where it is suggested that the crown prosecution service has been at fault, the case is thoroughly examined by a senior official. Experience has shown that whilst the crown prosecution service has on occasion been at fault in the majority of such cases (some of which have attracted damaging publicity for the crown prosecution service) the inability to proceed has been attributable either to a failing other than within the crown prosecution service or combination of events beyond the control of any one agency.

Mr. Fatchett

asked the Attorney-General how many qualified lawyers are employed by the crown prosecution service on the latest available figures.

The Attorney-General

The number of lawyers employed by the crown prosecution service as prosecutors at 1 December 1986 was 1,229. In addition, a small proportion of administrative staff employed by the service have a legal qualification.

Forward to