HL Deb 16 March 1998 vol 587 cc95-6WA
The Earl of Haddington

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On how many occasions the Treasury have used the service of trainee solicitors in County Court appearances. [HL848]

The Solicitor-General (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)

Litigation for the Treasury is conducted by the Treasury Solicitor, who conducts litigation on behalf of a number of government departments. I am replying to this question since the Treasury Solicitor's Department falls within the Law Officers' responsibilities.

There is no record of a County Court appearance by a trainee solicitor on behalf of the Treasury. The Treasury Solicitor's Department has identified eight occasions on which trainee solicitors appeared in the County Court before the District Judge on applications in Chambers, in the last 12 months. This figure does not include occasions when private firms of solicitors, acting as agents for the Treasury Solicitor, may have used legal trainees.

The Treasury Solicitor, in common with private solicitors, is required to provide trainee solicitors with the opportunity to gain experience of the practice of advocacy and oral presentation skills.