§ 107 and 108. Brigadier Medlicottasked the Attorney-General (1) the estimated cost of bringing into operation the legal advice provisions of the Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949; and how soon it is proposed that this shall be done;
(2) what is now expected to be the annual cost to the Exchequer of extending the Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949, to magistrates' courts and county courts; and how soon it is anticipated that this step will be taken.
17W
The Attorney-GeneralIt is difficult to form firm estimates of the cost of these services but, on such information as is at present available, it is estimated that the annual cost of bringing into operation those provisions of Part I of the Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949, which relate to legal advice, legal aid in the magistrates' courts and legal aid in the county courts, is respectively £470,000; £100,000, and £250,000. I assume that, as my hon. and gallant Friend's second Question is addressed to me, it is not intended to refer to legal aid in the magistrates' courts under Part II of the Act.
With regard to the latter parts of my hon. and gallant Friend's Questions, I have nothing to add to the replies given to the hon. and learned Member for West Ham, South (Mr. Elwyn Jones) and other hon. Members on 25th October.
§ 109. Mr. Jannerasked the Attorney General whether he is aware that intricate documents, other than formal notices, have been sent by landlords to large numbers of tenants inviting agreement to increases of rent purporting to be chargeable for repairs; that, as many of these tenants are unable to pay for legal advice on the difficult questions and calculations raised by these demands, they are forced to agree to the requests; that the necessity of granting such tenants and others legal assistance under the Legal Aid and Advice Act is urgent; and whether he will speedily extend the services under the Act to provide for such needs.
The Attorney-GeneralI would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to him and to the hon. and learned Member for West Ham, South (Mr. Elwyn Jones) on 25th October. I have nothing to add to those answers.
§ 110. Mr. Jannerasked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that some local committees set up under the Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949, are refusing applications for legal aid in cases which could be instituted in the High Court on the grounds that the proceedings, if any, would be more appropriate to the county court; and whether he will make regulations requiring the local committees to grant legal aid in respect of cases of this nature to enable the proceedings to be 18W taken in the High Court pending legal aid being available to litigants in county courts.
The Attorney-GeneralThe answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes," and to the second, "No."