§ 5. Mr. Walker-Smithasked the Attorney-General what consideration he has given to the desirability of enabling successful defendants to recover costs in cases where they are involved in protracted litigation against legally-aided plaintiffs.
The Solicitor-GeneralI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 13th December to my hon. Friend the Member for Crosby (Mr. Page).
§ 6. Sir L. Ropnerasked the Attorney-General the number of applications made for legal aid during the first six months of 1954; in how many cases legal aid was granted; and what was the total cost.
The Solicitor-GeneralTwenty-three thousand two hundred and fifty-five applications for legal aid were received in the six months ended 30th June, 1954, and in the same period 13,555 persons received civil aid certificates. I regret that the total cost during that period, which falls partly within the last and partly within the present financial year, cannot be given without a special calculation involving expense and work which I do not think would be justified.