HC Deb 02 March 1998 vol 307 cc446-8W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 13 February 1998,Official Report, column 400, how many High Court judges had their applications for silk rejected at their (a) fourth and (b) more than fourth attempts. [31215]

Mr. Hoon

Of the 97 High Court Judges at present in post, none had their applications for silk rejected at their fourth and future attempts.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 13 February 1998,Official Report, column 400, concerning the number of unsuccessful applications for silk made by an individual before taking silk; what assessment he has made of the (a) advantages and (b) disadvantages of placing a limit on the number of applications which can be made. [31082]

Mr. Hoon

My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor considers that the balance of advantage is against placing a limit on the number of applications which can be made for silk. Practitioners should be able to retain the right to apply for silk as often as they wish.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average number of applications for silk before an appointment is made. [31092]

Mr. Hoon

The average number of applications for silk made by those who were successful in the 1997 silk round was 2.57.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 12 February 1998,Official Report, column 300, regarding consultations on the suitability of applicants for silk, if he will list those consultees who are not members of the judiciary. [31184]

Mr. Hoon

I have listed those consultees who are not members of the judiciary.

Consulted at MeetingsCircuit LeadersSouth Eastern: M. Lawson QCThe Leader of the South Eastern Circuit consults the Chairmen of the Bar Messes on the South Eastern Circuit:D. Spens QCD. Day QCD. Stokes QCR. Camden-Pratt QCJ. Baughan QCN. SweeneyH. Green QCG. Khayat QCA. Patience QCR. Amlot QCMidland & Oxford: J. Hunt QCNorthern: R. Henriques QCNorth Eastern: M. Swift QCWestern: N. Pascoe QCWales and Chester: J. Griffith Williams QCOfficers of the Bar CouncilChairman and Vice-Chairman: R. Owen QC and H. Hallett QCConsulted in writingEC and International LawLegal Adviser, FCO: Sir Franklin Berman KMG QCAdvocate General of the Court of Justice of the EC: F. G. Jacobs QCEC Law Silks: N. Forwood QCSpecialist Bar Association ChairmenChairman, Administrative Law Bar Association: M. Supperstone QCChairman, Chancery Bar Association: N. Patten QCChairman, Commercial Bar Association: J. Jarvis QCChairman and Vice-Chairman, London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association: P. Gross QC and C. MacKay QCChairman, Criminal Bar Association: R. Amlot QCChairman, Employment Law Bar Association: R. Allen QCChairman, Family Law Bar Association: D. Bodey QCChairman, Local Government and Planning & Environmental Law Bar Association: M. Spence QCChairman, Official Referees Bar Association: D. Friedman QCLeader, Parliamentary Bar Mess: M. Fitzgerald QCChairman, Personal Injury Bar Association: M. de Navarro QCChairman, Professional Negligence Bar Association: R. de Wilde QCChairman, Revenue Bar Association: G. Aaronson QCOther senior practitionersIntellectual Property: S. Thorley QCLandlord & Tenant: K. Lewison QCSolicitor to the Inland Revenue: B. E. CleaveEnvironmental: V. Pugh QC and P. Vallance QCImmigration: N. Blake QCDefamation: R. Hartley QCRestrictive Practices and Monopolies: J. Lever QCEmployment & Industrial Relations: J. McMullen QCAdmiralty: R. F. Stone QCBar Race Relations Committee: P. Scriven QCSolicitorsThe Law SocietyCouncil Members of the Law SocietyLaw Society Equal Opportunities CommitteeSpecialist Solicitors AssociationsAssociation of Patent SolicitorsAssociation of Personal Injury LawyersAssociation of Pension LawyersCommerce & Industry GroupCriminal Law Solicitors AssociationEducational Law AssociationEmployment Lawyers AssociationHousing Law Practitioners AssociationImmigration Law Practitioners AssociationInsolvency Lawyers AssociationIntellectual Property Lawyers AssociationLegal Aid Practitioners GroupLocal Government GroupLondon Criminal Courts Solicitors AssociationLondon Solicitors Litigation AssociationOfficial Referees Solicitors AssociationSolicitors Association of Higher Court AdvocatesSolicitors European GroupSolicitors Family Law Association.