§ 28. Mr. Peter Archerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Deparament what sums were recovered under the contribution orders made in 1970 and included in Table XVII (b) of the Criminal Statistics in England and Wales for 1970, in respect of each of the categories of courts listed in that Table.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe information is not available in the form requested. In 1970 the total amount recovered was £149,630.
§ Mr. ArcherDoes the hon. and learned Gentleman agree that that is still a modest proportion of the total of £218,000 ordered to be recovered? Are these order worth the cost of collection, or might not everyone's interest be better served if, where a person of modest means requires assistance in a legal case, it is made available unconditionally?
§ Mr. CarlisleThe hon. and learned Gentleman is not comparing like with like. My answer related to the amount recovered during 1970. His figure of £218,000 relates to the amount ordered to be paid; and as most of it is paid on an instalment basis, a great deal of it may not yet have been recovered.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonIn view of the considerable number of contribution orders made by the courts, may I ask the hon. and learned Gentleman to say why the courts still insist on refusing legal aid, particularly the magistrates' courts? Will he please look into this matter?
§ Mr. CarlisleThe take-up of legal aid in the magistrates' courts alone doubled between 1967 and 1970. The cost of legal aid in the magistrates' courts from 1965 to 1970 increased more than tenfold.