asked the Minister for Justice the proposals, if any, to employ, as a matter of urgency, a general solicitor for wards of court and if he will make a comprehensive statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Wards of Court Solicitor.
372.
Several efforts have been made over the past two years to have a suitably experienced solicitor appointed to the position of General Solicitor for Minors and Wards of Court to replace a solicitor from the staff of the Land Registry who filled the position on a whole-time basis for some years since May 1971. These efforts included the holding of two competitions, one confined to solicitors in the civil service and one public competition.
I should explain for the record that the appointment of a general solicitor is, by law, a matter for the President of the High Court. I want to make it quite clear, however, that the delay in filling the position can in no way be attributed to him. The delay has been due to difficulties altogether outside his control.
Because of the difficulties in filling the position, the solicitor from the Land Registry staff who filled it on a whole-time basis for some years since May 1971 continues, out of a sense of public duty, to do so for a considerable period in addition to performing his duties in the Land Registry after he had returned there on promotion. I want to take this opportunity of recording my appreciation of his public-spiritedness in that regard.
Since the officer from the Land Registry returned to his duties there, the efforts to fill the position of general solicitor have been intensified but, so far, without success. However, it is hoped that the new salary scale now applicable to the position—£11,617 to £13,415 with effect from 1 March 1980 as compared with £8,437 to £9,575 when it was advertised last year—will attract suitably experienced solicitor candidates under a proposed new competition, for the holding of which urgent arrangements are being made.
Efforts are also continuing to provide a replacement for an assistant solicitor in the office who resigned his position some time ago: difficulties in filling this position have also been experienced.