§ Mr. David Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for legal aid have been refused for each of the years from 1979 to date.
§ Mr. LangThe number of applications for criminal legal aid which were refused was:
Number 1979–80 6,229 1980–81 5,924 1981–82 6,100 1982–83 6,183 1983–84 7,114 1984–85 7,312 1985–86 9,297 Comparable details for civil legal aid are not readily available. The following table shows the number of applications received and the number of full legal aid certificates issued. The figures include applications for emergency certificates which may be refused even though legal aid may eventually be given on the normal basis and not all approvals result in the issue of a certificate.
Total applications received Full certificates received 1979–80 29,012 16,782 1980–81 32,843 17,621 1981–82 35,292 22,190 1982–83 31,006 19,475 1983–84 31,126 18,353 1984–85 31,953 16,596