asked the Attorney-General if he will publish in theOfficial Reportthe number of inquiries undertaken by the Queen's Proctor in each of the last three years for which returns have been made, and the cost per annum over this period of the Queen's Proctor's staff.

The total numbers of suits referred to the Queen's Proctor for inquiries, intervention, or, at the request of the court, the instruction of

				1975–76	1976–77	1977–78
				£	£	£
Staff costs (including superannuation)	…	…	…	17,000	18,000	19,000
Cost of accommodation and common services			…	6,000	8,000	10,000
Costs, fees and other disbursements	…	…	…	1,000	2,000	1,000
				24,000	28,000	50,000

The Queen's Proctor also recovered during the three financial years sums in spect of costs awarded to the Queen's Proctor in interventions as follows:

£
1975–76	124
1976–77	280
1978–78	1,588

The Queen's Proctor also represents the Crown in maritime matters, principally prize. The cost of this work is negligible.