§ Mr. Bensonasked the Attorney-General the total amount of public funds voted by Parliament in 1954–55 for the Legal Aid Scheme; the total amount actually used for this purpose; and the proportion of the cases and of the total cost attributable to matrimonial causes.
§ The Attorney-GeneralA total grant of £1,552,225 was voted for the Legal Aid Scheme in 1954–55. Subject to the Comptroller and Auditor General's examination of the accounts, it appears that £1,275,000 was actually applied for this purpose. Eighty-one per cent. of aided cases concluded in the year, and 78 per cent. of those granted legal aid in the year, related to matrimonial causes. Save for cases conducted by the Law Society's Divorce Department, matrimonial causes are not separately accounted for, and I am therefore unable to answer the last part of the hon. Member's Question.