§ Lord Cocks of Hartcliffeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What total amounts of fees have been claimed by counsel and solicitors for criminal legal aid work in the Crown Court and superior courts for each of the last five years; and what was the total number of claims made in each year.
§ The Lord ChancellorClaims in respect of professional fees are not recorded separately from those for other costs such as travel costs and solicitors' disbursements, where these have been incurred. The table below, therefore, shows the total number of claims received and the total claimed and paid (including fees and other costs determined) in respect of criminal legal aid in the Crown Court and superior courts for each of the last five years.
Total Amount Claimed1 (exc VAT) Total Paid (exc VAT) Number of Claims £ million £ million Counsel 1989–90 146,213 88.5 65.6 1990–91 152,573 117.5 81.6 1991–92 156,419 120.6 81.6 1992–93 155,972 157.3 105.5 1993–94 157,103 187.5 127.2 Solicitors 1989–90 110,888 65.0 48.6 1990–91 110,807 70.4 56.2 1991–92 109,851 80.5 61.2 1992–93 108,213 98.3 75.5 1993–94 100,003 110. 82.0 1Data series incomplete, therefore the amounts claimed prior to determination are estimated