§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Attorney-General what is the current average period between trial and taxation of counsel's fees in cases where the taxation is carried out by the central taxing unit; and if he will make a statment.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe information is not available in the form requested. Under the regulations, legal aid claims may be submitted by solicitors or counsel up to three months after the trial has been concluded. Central taxing teams deal with heavy and complex cases, which often involve a number of claims. The cases are not treated as ready to tax until all those claims have been received.
The table related to claims by counsel and solicitors determined by the central taxing teams during November 1991. It shows the proportion of those claims falling into age bands from the date when they became ready to tax and that over 50 per cent. were determined between 16 and 20 weeks from the date when they were ready to tax.
The Lord Chancellor is keeping the progress of the teams under close review and has recently increased the number of determining officers available to the central taxing teams by almost 40 per cent. This is expected significantly to reduce the delays in determinations.
Age since ready to tax Weeks Percentage of total claims determined in November 1991 0–4 9.3 4–8 9.6 8–12 14.7 12.16 12–7 16–20 8.3 over 20 45.4