§ Mr. BurnettTo ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list(a) those Crown courts where the Crown Prosecution Service has had rights of audience, (b) the dates on which those rights of audience were first granted and (c) the number of successful appeals from (i) courts where rights of audience have been so granted and (ii) Crown courts where rights of audience have not been so granted. [71499]
§ Mr. Hoon[holding answer 16 February 1999] Under Section 4 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985, Crown Prosecutor solicitors are entitled to appear in the Crown Courts at Caernarvon, Barnstaple, Bodmin (later replaced by Truro), Doncaster and Lincoln. However, these rights were not exercised until 1991, and have only been exercised at Truro.
On 26 February 1997, CPS solicitors (in common with other employed solicitors) were granted restricted rights of audience in the Crown Court (sitting at any location) subject to their obtaining a Higher Court Advocacy Qualification. These rights were exercised from 24 July 1998. Barrister Crown Prosecutors have never appeared before the Crown Court.
No separate records are kept of appeals from Crown Court centres where Crown Prosecutors have been granted or have exercised rights of audience.