§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the delay between trial and taxation of counsel's fees by central taxing units.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe central taxing teams were established in March 1991 to give a consistent approach to the determination of large claims for legal aid or central funds. Targets were set that 75 per cent. of claims should be determined within three months of becoming ready to tax—that is to say when all related claims have been lodged—and that all claims should be determined within six months of becoming ready to tax. In relation to their own workload, all circuits, except the south eastern, are currently meeting the first of these targets, and all but the south eastern and midland and Oxford are meeting the second. On the south eastern circuit, the backlog of claims is being reduced by the release of claims to other teams and, where appropriate, to determining officers in the courts, for a speedier determination with the aim of bringing all the teams within their targets by January 1993.