§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Attorney General if he will provide for the latest available 12 month period in respect of the Crown court(a) the total amount of public money received by junior counsel, (b) the number of cases dealt with by junior counsel, (c) the number of cases prosecuted by junior counsel, (d) the average fee, brief and refreshers, in prosecution cases prosecuted by junior counsel, (e) the number of criminal cases defended by junior counsel where payment was made from public funds and (f) the average fee for defence counsel, brief and refreshers, in criminal cases where payment was made from public funds; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-General(holding answer 23 March 1989): On 1987–88, the average brief fee for a trial in the Crown court payable to junior counsel representing legally aided defendants was £557.90, and the average full day refresher was £136. The number of cases defended by junior counsel where payment was made from public funds was around 94,030. The other information requested by the hon. Member is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Attorney-General if he will provide for the latest available 12-month period, the duration of average criminal case in which junior counsel appeared, in days, the average income of junior counsel from public funds in respect of the magistrates' courts(a) the amount of total public money received by junior counsel, (b) the number of cases dealt with by junior counsel, (c) the number of cases prosecuted by junior counsel, (d) the average fee, brief and refreshers, in prosecution cases prosecuted by junior counsel, (e) the number of criminal cases defended by junior counsel where payment was made from public funds, (f) the average fee for defence counsel, brief and refreshers, in criminal cases where payment was made from public funds, (g) the duration of average criminal case in which junior counsel appeared, in hours, and (h) the average income of junior counsel from public funds; and if he will make a statement.
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§ The Attorney-General[holding answer 23 March 1989]: The information requested by the hon. Member is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.