HC Deb 24 July 1996 vol 282 cc343-4W
Sir Julian Critchley

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 15 July,Official Report, column402, what is the name, and firm, of the practising solicitor nominated by the president of the Law Society to assist the judge reviewing taxation of costs. [38914]

Mr. Streeter

The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked him to reply direct.

Letter from M. D. Huebner to Sir Julian Critchley, dated 24 July 1996: The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the name of the practising solicitor nominated to assist with reviews of taxation of costs. Such reviews are governed by Order 62, rule 35 of the Rules of the Supreme Court which provides that, if he decides assistance from assessors is required, the judge shall appoint not less than two assessors, one of whom shall be a taxing officer and one a practising solicitor. When a solicitor assessor is required, the court asks the Law Society for a nomination. The Court Service does not maintain an independent list of solicitor assessors.