§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what consideration he has given following the debate on the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order on 17 July 1989,Official Report, column 171, to introduce a statutory duty solicitor scheme in Northern Ireland.
Mr. John M. TaylorFollowing the introduction of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order, the Law Society of Northern Ireland established panels of solicitors in all police divisions throughout the Province, who were prepared to offer their services to persons detained or attending voluntarily at police stations.
In recognition of the PACE provisions and in order to ensure access to solicitors, regulations were made by the Lord Chancellor to coincide with the commencement of PACE, providing that persons detained or attending voluntarily at a police station should have legal advice and assistance without reference to their financial means and without contributions.
In co-operation with the police and the Law Society, a survey was carried out by the Northern Ireland court service over the second six months of 1991, in respect of the availability of legal representation for persons detained or attending at police stations.
The results of the research indicate that 34 per cent. of persons detained or attending police stations requested legal advice. Of these, 87 per cent. asked for a solicitor known to them; only 9 per cent.—or some 3 per cent. of the total—sought the services of a panel solicitor.
This survey produced no evidence to suggest that there is a significant unmet demand for access to solicitors under the PACE Order. There is no present indication that a statutory scheme is required.