§ Lord Windleshamasked Her Majesty's Government:
What were the reasons for deciding against the appointment of a senior lawyer, answerable to the board of the Legal Services Commission, to oversee the work in the initial six local offices employing salaried public defenders in a way that respects and protects their professional integrity. [HL3842]
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)The Government remain of the view that salaried defenders employed in a fully-developed salaried defence service should report to a senior lawyer who would protect and promote their professional integrity. Six pilot offices will be used initially to assess the viability of the project. The first three of these will open in April 2001. The Government and the Legal Services Commission proposed in the consultation document on salaried defenders published in June that, during the period of assessment, a member of the commission, who is an experienced criminal practitioner of high standing, should act as the head of professional service for the six offices. The heads of each office will have direct access to him. The commission member who will undertake this role is Mr Tony Edwards, a distinguished defence lawyer of great experience. He is senior partner of a substantial criminal law firm and is a specialist in the professional conduct and management of criminal law work.