§ Mr. Ray Powellasked the Attorney-General what was the number of legal aid applications refused during the periods May 1978 to May 1979 and May 1979 to May 1980; and whether the present regulations differ from those applicable in May 1979.
The Solicitor-GeneralFor civil legal aid, the available information is in respect of April 1978 to March 1979 inclusive. In this period, 24,029 legal aid applications were refused in England and Wales. Figures for 1979–80 are not yet available. For criminal and care proceedings the latest available information is for the calendar year 1978, in which period 40,896 legal aid applications were refused in England and Wales. This information is published by petty sessional division in table 25 and by Crown court centre in table 26 of "Criminal Statistics. England and Wales, 1978"(Cmnd. 7670).
The most significant changes made in the civil legal aid regulations since May 1979 are the reduction in the proportion of an assisted person's disposable income which may be required as a contribution; 13W the increase in the eligibility limits for legal aid; and the introduction of assistance by way of representation. The present regulations relating to the grant of criminal legal aid do not differ from those applicable in May 1979.