§ Lord Macaulay of Bragarasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish the costs to the criminal legal aid system of opening speeches in criminal jury trials, and brief fees to counsel in criminal trials, in England and Wales; and whether it is proposed that brief fees should be paid to counsel and solicitors involved in criminal jury trials in Scotland.
§ Lord Fraser of CarmyllieNo separate fee is payable to counsel in respect of either opening speeches or closing speeches in criminal proceedings in England and Wales; the cost is included as part of the basic brief fee or refresher. The total cost to legal aid in England and Wales in 1993–94 of brief fees to counsel in criminal proceedings is estimated to be £72 million, with an average payment of £449. The total cost to criminal legal aid of refreshers during the same period is estimated at £24 million, the average payment being £573. There is no proposal for a system of brief fees to be introduced in Scotland.