§ Ian LucasTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average cost was per case for magistrates courts criminal cases dealt with in England and Wales by(a) solicitors in private practice and (b) the Criminal Defence Service in the last year for which figures are available. [153520]
§ Mr. LammyThe information requested is as follows.
(a)The amount of money charged for private work by a solicitor, not funded by the Criminal Defence Service in private practice, for magistrates courts cases is a matter between the solicitor and client and as such this information is not held centrally.
(b)The average solicitor defence costs for a publicly funded magistrates court case paid from the Criminal Defence Service in 2002–03 was £515.