§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Attorney-General if he will place in the Library a copy of the new guidelines issued by the Lord Chancellor's Department concerning legal aid; and why these guidelines were issued.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralCopies of the circular (LCD Circular JC (84) 8) have been placed in the Library today. The circular provides guidance on the criteria for the grant of legal aid for trials in the magistrates' courts and appeals from them to the Crown court. It has been issued to encourage consistent interpretation of the criteria by the courts and the criminal legal aid committees of the Law Society.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the Widgery criteria for granting legal aid.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe criteria for the grant of legal aid recommended by the departmental committee on legal aid in criminal proceedings under the chairmanship of the then Mr. Justice Widgery (Cmnd. 2934) have been endorsed by successive Home Secretaries and Lord Chancellors. In June 1983 the Lord Chancellor invited the Legal Aid Advisory Committee to review the financial and non-financial criteria for the grant of both civil and legal aid. I understand that the advisory committee expects to report soon.