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Proceeding contribution from Lord Dubs (Labour) in the House of Lords on Monday, 13 July 2009. It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL) and Debate on bill on Coroners and Justice Bill.


Coroners and Justice Bill

If I have misled the Committee on the figures, I apologise, but I do not think I have. I am relying on the report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights. In its 8th report, House of Lords Paper 57, page 43, paragraph 1.134, dealing with special counsel, it states: ""We are concerned, however, by the very small number of cases in which special counsel has so far been appointed: two out of a total of 136 applications. This suggests that the appointment of special counsel may be being treated as a wholly exceptional course rather than one which fairness may sometimes require on the facts of a particular case. We note that there is no record of the number of times special counsel were requested or applied for by the defence but that request or application was not acceded to by the court"." So there is quite a lot of information. My noble friend the Minister may have more up-to-date information, which he could let us have.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
712 c977 
Session
2008-09
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Disability Children Disclosure of information Crime Bail Administration of justice Detainees Crimes of violence Custodial treatment Evidence Homicide Intimidation Ethnic groups Immunity from prosecution Protection Police Prosecutions Public appointments Public consultation Offensive weapons Magistrates' courts Sentencing Terrorism Vulnerable adults Young offenders Witnesses Trials Video recordings Reoffenders Sentencing Council for England and Wales
Legislation
Coroners and Justice Bill 2008-09
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk