§ Miss Quennellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he estimates to be the average cost of hearings in the case of disputes arising under the Commons Registration Act 1965.
§ Mr. Denis HowellOn average each hearing in a dispute costs the Exchequer in the region of £100. This figure includes the estimated cost of processing the case in the commons commissioner's office before and after the hearing.
§ Miss Quennellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance can be made available from public funds to commoners' associations incurring expenses at hearings arising from disputes under the Commons Registration Act 1965.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe only public funds available to disputants at these hearings are those provided under the legal aid scheme, for which individual persons whose financial resources are within the prescribed limits are eligible. Legal aid is not however available to incorporated or unincorporated bodies, including associations.