§ Mr. LawrenceTo ask the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of the cost to the public purse of implementing the Green Papers on the legal profession.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Green Papers set out proposals for the elimination of rules in the legal profession which may not be necessary in order to ensure standards of competence and conduct. The question, therefore, in relation to any particular rule is whether it is necessary for this purpose. If a rule is not necessary for this purpose its elimination is not likely to increase cost.
§ Mr. LawrenceTo ask the Attorney-General what response he is making to the Coopers and Lybrand report assessing the increase of the cost to the Exchequer of extending rights of audience in the high courts to solicitors in standard fee legal aid cases from £9.8 million to £17.7 million.
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§ The Attorney-GeneralAll the submissions made to the Lord Chancellor on the Green Papers are now being carefully considered, with a view to a response being made before the summer recess. The Lord Chancellor has, however, received a supplementary response from the Law Society which suggests that, contrary to the contentions in the Coopers and Lybrand report, for many straightforward Crown court cases it would be cheaper if a solicitor carried out the advocacy personally rather than employing a barrister.