Attorney General: The Rt Hon the Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC


Leads on:

* Overall responsibility for the work of the Attorney General's Office and superintended Departments (the Treasury Solicitor's Department, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Serious Fraud Office, the Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office, the Army Prosecuting Authority and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.
* Specific statutory duty to superintend the discharge of duties by the Director of Public Prosecutions (who heads the Crown Prosecution Service), the Director of the Serious Fraud Office, the Director of the Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office, the Director of Army Legal Services and the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.
* Non-statutory oversight of the armed service prosecuting authorities and government prosecuting departments
* Government's principal legal adviser dealing (amoungst others) with questions of international law, European Community/Union law, human rights and devolution issues
* Public interest functions, for example, reference of unduly lenient sentences to the Court of Appeal, bringing proceedings for contempt of court and intervention in certain proceedings to protect charities
* Questions of law arising on Bills and with issues of legal policy
* Legal aspects of all major international and domestic litigation involving the Government
* Specific responsibilities for some elements of the Government's Criminal Justice System targets.

Private Office to Baroness Scotland

* Telephone: 020 7271 2405
* Fax: 020 7271 2432
* Email: privateoffice@attorneygeneral.gsi.gov.uk