§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of the comparative cost of briefing solicitors and barristers for legal aid work in the criminal courts (a) in London and (b) elsewhere in England and Wales.
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YOP/YTS CI STEP/CP JRS4 EAS 1979–80 Number of women participants 103,872 2,721 1 1 — Percentage of total participants 48 31 — — — 1980–81 Number of women participants 176,400 2,612 1 1 — Percentage of total participants 49 32 — — — 1981–82 Number of women participants 259,910 2,917 1 2 — Percentage of total participants 47 32 — — — 1982–83 Number of women participants 249,780 2,921 1 2 1 Percentage of total participants 46 33 — — — 1983–84 Number of women participants 148,671 3,049 30,912 5,371 4,037 Percentage of total participants 42 32 23 6 14.61 1984–85 Number of women participants 173,800 2,925 37,122 4,781 9,401 Percentage of total participants 44 31 23 7 20.4 1985–86 Number of women participants 177,760 3,007 53,064 3,814 14,529 Percentage of total participants 44 32 23 9 24.2 1986–87 (estimate) Number of women participants 158,400 32,900 72,000 32,825 320,211 Percentage of total participants 44 32 24 11 26.4 1 Figures are not available. 2 Figures are available at disproportionate cost only. 3 Figures are for February 1987. 4 Previous figures were for entrants to the scheme. These figures are for the numbers of people being paid the Job Release Allowance. Figures for the number of women participating in the Scheme is only available in this form.
The Attorney-GeneralNo assessment of the comparative cost of briefing solicitors and barristers for legal aid work in the criminal courts has been made. However, the Efficiency Commission, established in September 1986 by the Lord Chancellor to identify ways of improving the effiency of the legal profession in the Crown court, is considering how to compare actual and notional costs of advocacy in guilty pleas.