§ Lord Cocks of Hartcliffeasked Her Majesty's Government:
How much public money was spent on banisters' fees during the financial year 1993–94, taking into account legally-aided cases and cases involving the Crown or Her Majesty's Government as a party.
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern)Information is not readily available in the form requested. Information in respect of civil proceedings could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. For criminal proceedings, a total of £142.8 million was paid from the legal aid fund in respect of banisters' fees in England and Wales during 1993–94. During the same period the principal prosecuting agencies paid in total £82.4 million to barristers, broken down as follows; the Crown Prosecution Service £72.3 million, the Serious Fraud Office £4.2 million, HM Customs and Excise £5.0 million, and Inland Revenue £0.9 million.