§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Attorney-General if he will establish a scale of fees for(a) judges and (b) Queen's counsel (i) chairing or (ii) appearing before major public inquiries, involving the Cleveland child abuse inquiry and the King's Cross tube fire inquiry.
§ The Attorney-GeneralA judge who chairs an inquiry continues to receive the usual judicial salary. The amount of the fee for Queen's counsel chairing or appearing at an inquiry is a matter for negotiation between the counsel concerned and the person instructing that counsel. The fee payable depends on many factors, including the experience and seniority of counsel and the length and complexity of the inquiry. As each inquiry differs from another, scale fees would not be appropriate. Where a Queen's counsel is appointed by a Secretary of State to chair an inquiry, the fee is settled with the approval of the Treasury.