§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Attorney-General what research the Government have carried out on whether the quality of service to the public would be better and costs lower if Crown prosecutors were granted extended rights of audience; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralResearch is at present confined to an initial assessment of the potential costs and savings to the CPS according to the range of options open to the Lord Chancellor's advisory committee on legal education and training. No research is feasible as regards the qualitative effect of any decision by the advisory committee.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Attorney-General what is his latest estimate of the full costs to public funds involved in providing the services for a full year of(a) a Crown prosecutor, (b) a senior Crown prosecutor and (c) a chief Crown prosecutor.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe latest estimates of the full costs to public funds involved in providing the services of Crown prosecutors for a full year, including accommodation costs and notional superannuation contributions are as follows:
In London Outside London (a) a Crown Prosecutor £36,868 £29,404 (b) a Senior Crown Prosecutor £42,225 £34,306 (c) a Grade 4 Chief Crown Prosecutor £67,424 £59,281 a Grade 5 Chief Crown Prosecutor — £53,056
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Attorney-General what is his estimate of the number of salaried Crown prosecutors who appear in court as advocates on each sitting day.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo collected figures are available in respect of the number of salaried Crown prosecutors who appear in court each sitting day. In the financial year 1990–91 some 246,000 sessions in the magistrates' courts were covered by salaried Crown prosecutors. Assuming 250 sitting days in a year, the estimated average number of salaried Crown prosecutors appearing as advocates each day is 1,000.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Attorney-General what is the current annual cost of the Crown prosecution service; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe current estimated annual cost of the Crown prosecution service for 1991–92 is £229,923,000. Further details were published in "Supply Estimates 1991–92" class X, votes 5 and 6.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Attorney-General if he is able to give an estimate of the number of hours per week spent in court, excluding waiting time, on average, by a Crown prosecutor and a senior Crown prosecutor respectively.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo specific figures are available of the average number of hours per week spent in court by Crown prosecutors. The best estimate that can be made is a figure of about 15 hours per week for both Crown 365W prosecutors and senior Crown prosecutors. Waiting time is not a significant factor—full list advocacy by Crown prosecutors results in efficient use of resources and reduces waiting time to a negligible level.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Attorney-General what proportion of advocates appearing in magistrates' courts on behalf of the Crown prosecution service on an average day are(a) counsel from the independent Bar instructed (i) on a case-by-case basis and (ii) otherwise, (b) solicitors in private practice instructed (i) on a case-by-case basis and (ii) otherwise, (c) salaried members of the Crown prosecution service and (d) other advocates.
§ The Attorney-GeneralExact figures giving the proportions requested are not available. The estimated proportions for the financial year 1990–91 are:
- (a) (i) 2 per cent.
- (ii) 15 per cent.
- (b) (i) and (ii) 17 per cent.
- (c) 66 per cent.
- (d) 0 per cent.—an insignificant number of cases is handled by advocates from other Government Departments on behalf of the Crown prosecution service where a joint prosecution arises.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Attorney-General what additional cost to public funds is involved in providing the services of a Crown prosecutor stationed in central London as against one stationed in Manchester.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe latest estimate of the additional cost to public funds involved in providing the services of a Crown prosecutor stationed in central London as against one stationed in Manchester is £7,464.