§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what official foreign visits the Official Solicitor has made since his appointment; and what was the purpose of such visits. [32398]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe Official Solicitor has made one foreign visit. In April 2000 he attended and spoke as the sole representative for England and Wales at the 4th International Conference of Public Trustees and Public Guardians held in Singapore.
§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) whole-time and (b) part-time staff work in the Official Solicitor's office; and how many were employed (a) whole-time and (b) part-time when he took up his office. [32568]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonOn 1 August 1999 there were 99 full-time staff and five part-time staff in the office of the Official Solicitor. On 1 April 2001 30 members of staff left the Office of the Official Solicitor for the newly established Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS), and on the same date 90 staff from the former Trust Division of the Public Trust Office transferred into the office of the Official Solicitor, which became the office of the Official Solicitor and Public Trustee. There are currently 154 full-time staff and nine part-time staff working in the combined office.
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§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the case load has been for the Official Solicitor in each month since he took up his office. [32567]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe Official Solicitor's records show that his active cases (in all areas of his then work) as at August 1999 numbered 3,921; as at December 2001 the active cases for the combined office of the Official Solicitor and Public Trustee numbered 5,647. Annual figures are published in the Official Solicitor's annual reports, which are available in the Library of the House. A monthly breakdown, if required, may be obtained from the Official Solicitor and Public Trustee's office.