To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 13 February 1998, Official Report, column 400, how many High Court judges had their applications for silk rejected at their (a) fourth and (b) more than fourth attempts. [31215]
Of the 97 High Court Judges at present in post, none had their applications for silk rejected at their fourth and future attempts.
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 13 February 1998, Official Report, column 400, concerning the number of unsuccessful applications for silk made by an individual before taking silk; what assessment he has made of the (a) advantages and (b) disadvantages of placing a limit on the number of applications which can be made. [31082]
My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor considers that the balance of advantage is against placing a limit on the number of applications which can be made for silk. Practitioners should be able to retain the right to apply for silk as often as they wish.
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average number of applications for silk before an appointment is made. [31092]
The average number of applications for silk made by those who were successful in the 1997 silk round was 2.57.
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 12 February 1998, Official Report, column 300, regarding consultations on the suitability of applicants for silk, if he will list those consultees who are not members of the judiciary. [31184]
I have listed those consultees who are not members of the judiciary.
Consulted at Meetings
Circuit Leaders
South Eastern: M. Lawson QC
The Leader of the South Eastern Circuit consults the Chairmen of the Bar Messes on the South Eastern Circuit:
D. Spens QC
D. Day QC
D. Stokes QC
R. Camden-Pratt QC
J. Baughan QC
N. Sweeney
H. Green QC
G. Khayat QC
A. Patience QC
R. Amlot QC
Midland & Oxford: J. Hunt QC
Northern: R. Henriques QC
North Eastern: M. Swift QC
Western: N. Pascoe QC
Wales and Chester: J. Griffith Williams QC
Officers of the Bar Council
Chairman and Vice-Chairman: R. Owen QC and H. Hallett QC
Consulted in writing
EC and International Law
Legal Adviser, FCO: Sir Franklin Berman KMG QC
Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the EC: F. G. Jacobs QC
EC Law Silks: N. Forwood QC
Specialist Bar Association Chairmen
Chairman, Administrative Law Bar Association: M. Supperstone QC
Chairman, Chancery Bar Association: N. Patten QC
Chairman, Commercial Bar Association: J. Jarvis QC
Chairman and Vice-Chairman, London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association: P. Gross QC and C. MacKay QC
Chairman, Criminal Bar Association: R. Amlot QC
Chairman, Employment Law Bar Association: R. Allen QC
Chairman, Family Law Bar Association: D. Bodey QC
Chairman, Local Government and Planning & Environmental Law Bar Association: M. Spence QC
Chairman, Official Referees Bar Association: D. Friedman QC
Leader, Parliamentary Bar Mess: M. Fitzgerald QC
Chairman, Personal Injury Bar Association: M. de Navarro QC
Chairman, Professional Negligence Bar Association: R. de Wilde QC
Chairman, Revenue Bar Association: G. Aaronson QC
Other senior practitioners
Intellectual Property: S. Thorley QC
Landlord & Tenant: K. Lewison QC
Solicitor to the Inland Revenue: B. E. Cleave
Environmental: V. Pugh QC and P. Vallance QC
Immigration: N. Blake QC
Defamation: R. Hartley QC
Restrictive Practices and Monopolies: J. Lever QC
Employment & Industrial Relations: J. McMullen QC
Admiralty: R. F. Stone QC
Bar Race Relations Committee: P. Scriven QC
Solicitors
The Law Society
Council Members of the Law Society
Law Society Equal Opportunities Committee
Specialist Solicitors Associations
Association of Patent Solicitors
Association of Personal Injury Lawyers
Association of Pension Lawyers
Commerce & Industry Group
Criminal Law Solicitors Association
Educational Law Association
Employment Lawyers Association
Housing Law Practitioners Association
Immigration Law Practitioners Association
Insolvency Lawyers Association
Intellectual Property Lawyers Association
Legal Aid Practitioners Group
Local Government Group
London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association
London Solicitors Litigation Association
Official Referees Solicitors Association
Solicitors Association of Higher Court Advocates
Solicitors European Group
Solicitors Family Law Association.