HC Deb 07 February 2002 vol 379 cc1131-3W
Mr. George Howarth

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department who(a) sits on and(b) appoints members of the Legal Services Commission; and what criteria are used to select those who sit on it. [32565]

Ms Rosie Winterton

The Legal Services Commission has a chair and 10 members, appointed by the Lord Chancellor. Eight members are non-executives, who work for a number of days a year, and two are executives, senior members of the Legal Services Commission's staff. The current Chair is Peter G. Birch, CBE and the non-executive members are Anthony Edwards, Philip Ely, Juliet Herzog, Sheila Hewitt, Yvonne Mosquito, Richard Penn, Margaret Richards and Jim Shearer. The two executive members are Steve Orchard, CBE (Chief Executive) and Brian Harvey (Director of Resources and Supplier Development).

Section 1 (5) of the Access to Justice Act 1999 requires the Lord Chancellor in appointing to have regard to the desirability of Commission members having between them experience and knowledge of: (a) the provision of services which the Commission can fund as part of the Community Legal Service or Criminal Defence Service; (b) the work of the courts; (c) consumer affairs; (d) social conditions; and (e) management. Further essential criteria set out in the information pack sent to people responding to public advertisements for the non-executive posts are: (a) ability to make a significant contribution at both strategic and policy levels; (b) potential to rise to the challenges that will be faced by the new Commission and to commit to an organisation driving through significant change; (c) sensitivity to the political and social policy issues facing the Commission and to the needs of the legal end users: (d) breadth of experience, vision and interest; (e) excellent communication skills; (f) a willingness to work with others to develop consensus, including working with sub-groups; (g) the ability to command respect and influence as an individual; (h) an understanding of the nature of working within the public sector; and (i) an understanding of the need to maintain high standards of probity, integrity and discretion.

Mr. George Howarth

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many reports or submissions the Legal Services Commission has produced since it was first established; and if she will list them.[33293]

Ms Rosie Winterton

The Legal Services Commission produced 70 reports and consultation papers between its inception in April 2000 and 30 November 2001. Details are set out as follows in their order of publication:

  1. 1. Merseyside Regional Report
  2. 2. Legal Services Commission (LSC) General Civil Contracting—review of contracts draft for consultation
    3. 1132W
  3. 3. Guidance for Community Legal Service Partnerships Draft for Consultation
  4. 4. South Eastern Regional Legal Services Committee (RLSC) Strategy
  5. 5. West Midlands RLSC Strategy Report
  6. 6. Eastern RLSC Report and Review
  7. 7. Merseyside Regional Report
  8. 8. Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Report
  9. 9. Draft amendments to franchise category definitions, clinical negligence and actions against detaining authorities, help at court in family cases and family franchise category, June 2000
  10. 10. Legal and Franchise Quality Standard: Solicitors
  11. 11. Legal and Franchise Quality Standard: Not for profit
  12. 12. General Civil Contract (Not for Profit)—Contract Documentation
  13. 13. Legal Aid Board Annual Report 1999–2000
  14. 14. Merseyside Regional Report
  15. 5 Assessing Means Assessment: A summary of the first phase of the means assessment research project
  16. 16. Family Graduated Fees Consultation Paper
  17. 17. Community Legal Service (CLS) Funding, contracting for all civil representation, Draft for consultation
  18. 18. General Criminal Contract—Draft for Consultation July 2000
  19. 19. An Evaluation of the Legal Services Commission's Pilot Project on Contracting Criminal Legal Advice and Assistance—Executive Summary
  20. 20. A Report on the Evaluation of the Legal Services Commission's Pilot Project on Contracting Criminal Legal Advice and Assistance—Quality in Criminal Defence Services
  21. 21. A report on the Evaluation of the Legal Services Commission's Pilot Project on Contracting Legal Advice and Assistance—Work Patterns and Costs under Criminal Contracting
  22. 22. Duty Solicitor Arrangements 2001—Draft for consultation July 2000
  23. 23. LSC Corporate Plan 2000–01 to 2003–04
  24. 24. Tameside Community Legal Service Partnership (CLSP) Strategic Plan
  25. 25. Salford CLSP Strategic Plan
  26. 26. North Western CLSP Update
  27. 27. Salaried Defender Service Research Specifications
  28. 28. Merseyside Regional Report
  29. 29. General Criminal Contract Proposed Payment Rates and Monthly Payment Rules
  30. 30. North Western RLSC Report and Review
  31. 31. London RLSC Report and Review of Regional Strategy
  32. 32. Criminal Contracting Documentation—December 2000
  33. 33. General Civil Contracts from 1 April 2001 (Solicitors)
  34. 34. General Civil Contracts from April 2001 (Not for Profit)
  35. 35. Local Legal Need
  36. 36. Report of the Findings of the LSRC Equal Opportunities Survey, 2000
  37. 37. North Western CLSP Update
  38. 38. Yorkshire and Humberside RLSC Report and Review
  39. 39. LSC Manual Release 3—(Update 1 of 2001) Consultation Exercise
  40. 40. Means Assessment: Options for Change
  41. 41. A proposed Quality Mark Standard for Websites
  42. 42. Proposed amendments to the Funding Code and decision-making guidance on family mediation
  43. 43. Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme Pilot—Proposals
  44. 44. LSC Legal Advice and Assistance at Police Stations Register Arrangements 2001
    45. 1133W
  45. 45. South Western RLSC Report and Review
  46. 46. East Midlands RLSC Report and Review
  47. 47. Duty Solicitor Manual 2001
  48. 48. Transaction Criteria—Ancillary relief and Children Act booklets
  49. 49. LSC Corporate Plan 2001–02 to 2003–04
  50. 50. West Midlands Community Legal Issue Report
  51. 51. Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme Pilot—Proposals: Summary of Responses and Conclusions
  52. 52. Warwickshire CLS Report
  53. 53. London RLSC Annual Report 1 April 2000–31 March 2001
  54. 54. Eastern RLSC Annual Report
  55. 55. Mediation Quality Mark Standard
  56. 56. Family Advice and Information Networks Project
  57. 57. CLS Consultation on range of proposed amendments for the Commission's documentation
  58. 58. CLS—changes to the financial conditions for funding by the Commission
  59. 59. Merseyside Regional Report
  60. 60. Quality Mark for the Bar
  61. 61. Step by Step Guide to the Quality Mark
  62. 62. Criminal Bills Assessment Manual—draft for consultation
  63. 63. Police and Criminal Evidence Act Guidance on Costs Assessment Manual—draft for consultation
  64. 64. Client Feedback Questionnaire
  65. 65. Casework for Students
  66. 66. Cost under the General Civil Contract
  67. 67. Derby Strategic Plan
  68. 68. Northampton Strategic Plan
  69. 69. Derbyshire Strategic Plan
  70. 70. Stockton-on-Tees Strategic Plan.