Appeals by Healthcare Professionals

HL Deb 19 December 2001 vol 630 cc53-4WA

Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many sitting days of Lords of Appeal in Ordinary are currently occupied in hearing and deciding appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council by healthcare professionals. [HL1379]

The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)

This year appeals by healthcare professionals were heard on 16 clays in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council; on four of those days other business was dealt with as well. Medical appeals are heard by boards of three members of the committee. These 16 days, therefore, represent 48 judge days. Not all the judges who sit on these boards are serving Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, since some are other members of the Judicial Committee, eg retired Law Lords, senior judges from the Commonwealth and past or present members of the Court of Appeal. Of the 48 judge days this year, 28 were sat by Lords of Appeal in Ordinary and 20 by other members of the Judicial Committee.

The corresponding figures for last year were that medical appeals were heard on 14 days, three of which were mixed business days, and the appeals occupied 25 judge days of the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary.