19098 (2025). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister of Justice

19098 (2025). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister of Justice: Under the change proposal currently being consulted on by the Public Defence Service is it proposed to disestablish a standalone appeals team; if so how (if at all) will this impact on the reputation of the Public Defence Service in respect of the conduct of appeals?

Hon Paul Goldsmith: No. I am advised the Public Defence Service appeals team will be reduced in number (from 4 to 1) not fully disestablished. In addition, there are other Public Defence lawyers across the wider PDS who hold a senior court appeals approval listing who can assist with this type of work. The impact on the reputation of the Public Defence Service of this change is that it will appear less often in the senior courts.