§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, how much was spent on experts' fees(a) from the Community Legal Service budget and (b) from the Criminal Defence Service budget in 2002–03. [141416]
§ Mr. LeslieInformation on experts fees paid as part of the Community Legal Service is not held centrally by the Legal Services Commission and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
For criminal cases the majority of payments are made out of central funds and came to £5.1 million. This figure includes interpreters' costs. Payments may also be paid out of the Criminal Defence Service through a payment made by the defending lawyer to an expert. Details of these payments are not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate costs.