Legal Aid (Hansard, 4 March 1996)

§ 30. Dr. Spink
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made on the reform of the legal aid scheme. [16445]

§ Mr. Jonathan Evans
The Lord Chancellor published a Green Paper setting out proposals for the reform of legal 20 aid in May 1995. Approximately 200 responses have been received. The Lord Chancellor has been examining the responses and intends to make an announcement on the future of the legal aid system before the summer.

§ Dr. Spink
When considering reform of the legal aid system, will my hon. Friend seek to improve or increase protection for my constituents and, indeed, for the taxpayer, from the people who occasionally use the legal aid system improperly, and particularly from vexatious litigants?

§ Mr. Evans
I am very much aware, from responses to the Green Paper received by the Lord Chancellor's Department, of concerns about whether those who are granted legal aid are advantaged in relation to costs. That, in essence, is one of the points my hon. Friend has raised, and I have had correspondence with him about it. He will be interested to know that that concern was also raised by a number of people who responded to the consultation, and it may well be one of the areas that is addressed in the response.

§ Mr. Llwyd
As the availability of legal aid has decreased, from about 80 per cent. when it was first introduced to just under 30 per cent., may I suggest one immediate saving that could be put in train—an appointment system in magistrates courts? Rather than have 10 or 12 legal aid lawyers wasting time all morning, give them an appointment system such as they have in the civil courts.

§ Mr. Evans
That is an interesting idea and it might be taken up by the magistrates courts themselves. The hon. Gentleman will know that magistrates courts committees are independent.
Eligibility is somewhat higher than the hon. Gentleman said. He is right to say that it has diminished, but the overall legal aid budget has grown inexorably. That is why the reform announced by my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor is so very important.