HC Deb 04 February 1991 vol 185 cc5-6W
34. Mr. Allen

To ask the Attorney-General what is the current state of staffing levels and workload of the Crown prosecution service.

The Attorney-General

There has been a significant improvement in recruitment in the past year. The Crown prosecution service has 1,717 lawyers in post against an increased total requirement of 2,053, an increase over 12 months of 137 lawyers in post. There are 3,637 administrative staff and law clerks in post, against a total requirement of 3,688.

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990
Circuit Judges 2 3 — 1 1 3
Stipendiary Magistrates — 2 1 — 1 1
County Court Registrars 1 — — 2 1 1

In 1991 to date one woman circuit judge and one woman district judge (formerly known as county court registrar) have been appointed.

The proportion of women in the profession with the necessary qualifications for appointment is low at present. As it increases, the Lord Chancellor will be able to appoint more women to judicial office.

Workload expressed in terms of the total number of cases prosecuted increased during the first nine months of 1990 by 3.2 per cent.

35. Mr. Vaz

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a further statement on the shortage of staff in the Crown prosecution service.

The Attorney-General

The Crown prosecution service now has 1,717 lawyers in post against an increased total requirement of 2,053, an increase over 12 months of 137 lawyers in post, and an increase since October 1986 of 504 lawyers in post. The current upturn in recruitment is being assisted by the success of the training scheme for pupil barristers and trainee solicitors, the introduction from 1 June 1990 of the single combined prosecutor grade, and a current doubling of the number of recruitment boards.

Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Attorney-General if he is satisfied with current levels of recruiting of professional staff to the Crown prosecution service; and if he will make a statement.

The Attorney-General

The number of lawyers in post at the end of January 1991 was 1,717.5. This figure represents an increase of 137.5 over the preceding 12 months, an average net gain of 11.5 per month. I welcome this significant increase, and recent trends indicate to me that it will continue.