HC Deb 18 March 2002 vol 382 cc3-5W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Solicitor-General how many staff have been employed by her Department in each of the last 10 years. [42460]

The Solicitor-General

[holding answer 14 March 2002]: The total numbers of staff employed by my own Department, the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, over the last 10 years are included in the Treasury Solicitor's Department figures. Records are not available for the years 1992 to 1994.

In the Departments for which the Attorney-General is responsible, details are as follows:

Crown Prosecution Service

The Crown Prosecution Service has employed the following number of staff in each of the last 10 years:

  • 5,920.5 in 1992
  • 6,327.5 in 1993
  • 6,386.5 in 1994
  • 4W
  • 6,409 in 1995
  • 6,202.5 in 1996
  • 5,677 in 1997
  • 5,461.5 in 1998
  • 5,666.9 in 1999
  • 5,562 in 2000
  • 5,593.9 in 2001.

These figures include all lawyers and administrative staff. Casual staff numbers are not included.

Treasury Solicitor's Department

The Treasury Solicitor's Department has employed the following number of staff in each of the last 10 years:

Treasury Solicitor's Department

  • 484.5 in 1992
  • 363.5 in 1993
  • 404 in 1994
  • 387.8 in 1995
  • 382.4 in 1996
  • 378.2 in 1997
  • 376.3 in 1998
  • 394.6 in 1999
  • 440 in 2000
  • 476.2 in 2001

Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers

  • 24 in 1995
  • 26 in 1996
  • 23 in 1997
  • 30 in 1998
  • 28 in 1999
  • 30 in 2000
  • 30.8 in 2001

Government Property Lawyers

  • 125.5 in 1993
  • 138 in 1994
  • 135.6 in 1995
  • 119.1 in 1996
  • 118.1 in 1997
  • 101.3 in 1998
  • 82.2 in 1999.

Serious Fraud Office

The Serious Fraud Office was established in 1988. The numbers of staff employed by the Department since April 1988 are as follows:

  • 63 in 1988–89
  • 103 in 1990–91
  • 117 in 1991–92
  • 136 in 1992–93
  • 138 in 1993–94
  • 137 in 1994–95
  • 162 in 1995–96
  • 166 in 1996–97
  • 154 in 1997–98
  • 149 in 1998–99
  • 170 in 1999–2000
  • 178 in 2000–01.

The figures have been obtained from Serious Fraud Office annual reports. The report for 1989–90 does not quote staff numbers. There are no other historical records containing staff numbers.