HC Deb 12 December 1935 vol 307 cc1090-1
33. Mr. MANDER

asked the Home Secretary the extent to which advantage has been taken of the Poor Prisoners' Defence Act, 1930, in magistrates' courts; in how many cases legal aid has been granted; and what percentage this forms of the total cases at which the defendant has pleaded not guilty and was unassisted by legal aid?

Sir J. SIMON

As the answer involves a number of figures, I think it will be more convenient to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

Figures are published each year in the Criminal Statistics of the numbers of legal aid and defence certificates granted and refused. The number of legal aid certificates (as distinct from defence certificates) granted by magistrates in each of the last four years was 501 in 1931, 632 in 1932, 655 in 1933, and. 723 in 1934. As regards the last part of the question, the hon. Member will appreciate that in a large number of cases, though the defendant denies the charge no question of legal aid arises. The number of cases in which legal aid was refused by the magistrates or declined by the defendant is as follows:

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