asked the Attorney-General (1) what is the total number of briefs given in prosecution cases to Queen's counsel in England and Wales, in each year since 1979 for each circuit;(2) how many Queen's counsel were instructed in prosecution cases more than
(a) two, (b) four or (c) six times per annum in each year since 1979.
I will write to the hon. Member when the information he requests has been collated.
asked the Attorney-General whether he will publish a list of all those prosecution cases handled by his Department naming the Queen's counsel who were instructed in each year since 1979; and what were the results of each case.
Responsibility for the prosecution of criminal cases in which the consent of the Law Officers must, by statute, be obtained lies with the prosecutor. Specific records are not kept of the leading counsel instructed in these cases, and figures could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.
asked the Attorney-General what is his practice in the allocation of prosecution briefs to Queen's counsel.
The nomination of counsel for the prosecution of criminal offences, both leading and junior, is now the responsibility of the Crown prosecution service. Leading counsel are briefed in cases of gravity and complexity, either according to a rota system or on the basis of special expertise in a particular area, such as fraud.
asked the Attorney-General with whom he consults in deciding which Queen's counsel are allocated work in the High Court.
In cases where it falls to my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General to nominate counsel for civil cases in the High Court on behalf of other Government Departments, although the ultimate decision is his alone he takes into account views expressed by the Department seeking a nomination.
asked the Attorney-General if any Queen's counsel have been removed from the list of Queen's counsel available for criminal work for reasons of lack of success in achieving convictions in prosecution cases.
No.