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Richard 7.57 Thank you for that post. I do agree that where the money we do have is spent, is just as important an issue as how much we have to spend. I also agree that defence spending is out of control. Two new aircraft carriers at £2bn, sorry now £2.5 bn each. Did we really need those? Thanks v much G Brown! And overseas aid which just goes into the pockets of dictators? That's a disgrace, too. "Charity begins at home, David," I can still hear my mother saying.

But, yes I am sure you knew a 'but' was coming, how about those solicitors, 136 firms with all the partners and staff affected, closed down due to the PII fiasco, the poor people of Somerset whose homes are uninhabitable, uninsurable, unsellable and worthless, and businesses ruined, hospitals with no spare capacity, military lay-offs, etc etc. they are all justifyable calls on HMG money and there is just not enough to go around.

And finally what about all those high profile, terrorist cases which always seem to end up in ECHR? How are they funded? Criminal legal aid in most cases is my guess.

I could go on (but you've probably worked that one out already,)

No offence intended, I do know you criminal barristers work very long hours on difficult cases and with awkward clients and if anything goes wrong you get the telling off. But is there scope for only one counsel instead of a QC and a junior?