§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about the number of justices' clerks, their deputies and court clerks in the magistrates courts service who have left the service to take up similar positions with the Crown prosecution service.
§ Mr. John PattenI understand that at the end of February there were 278 court clerk vacancies in England and Wales. The number of court clerks who have taken up appointments with the Crown prosecution service during the previous year is not available except at disproportionate cost, but is due to be collected shortly. Information about justices' clerks and their deputies has not so far been available separately, but we propose to collect it.