To ask the Solicitor-General how many lawyers left the Crown Prosecution Service in 2002. [125782]

During 2002, 83 lawyers (i.e. 3.56 per cent. of the average legal staff in post) ceased working for the Crown Prosecution Service. Of those, 27 were early retirements, 22 were resignations, eight were standard retirements, 11 were dismissals, nine were transfers to offer Government Departments, four were early severance and two were deaths.Within the same period, and as part of the Government's commitment in the White Paper, "Criminal Justice—The Way Ahead", 251 lawyers (i.e 10.76 per cent. of the average legal staff in post) joined the Service.