§ Mr. ArcherTo ask the Attorney-General what was the percentage increase(a) in legal aid fees and (b) in total costs per legal aid certificate in each year since 1979.
§ The Attorney-General(a) No rates are prescribed for non-matrimonial civil cases. From 1 October 1988 a system of prescribed rates and fees was introduced for legally aided matrimonial work, which were increased by 6 per cent, with effect from 1 April 1989. Rates for non-matrimonial legal aid work remain in the discretion of individual court taxing officers.
For criminal cases prior to 1982 there were no prescribed rates for remuneration. With effect from 1 October 1982 rates were prescribed by regulations. Those rates have been increased by the following percentages:
Solicitors per cent. Counsel per cent. 1983–84 5 5 1984–85 4.5 4.5 1985–86 4 4 1986–87 15 5 26.5 5 1987–88 6 5 1988–89 5.4 5.2 1 with effect from 1 April 1986 2 with effect from 1 October 1986 (b) For civil cases the percentage increase in total costs per legal aid certificate in each year since 1979 was:
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per cent. 1979–80 18.44 1980–81 14.91 1981–82 26.25 1982–83 17.89
per cent. 1983–84 14.18 1984–85 10.36 1985–86 10.16 1986–87 10.22 1987–88 8.99 1988–89 16.22 For criminal proceedings in magistrates courts the percentage increase in total costs per legal certificate in each year since 1979 was:
Per cent. 1979–80 19.08 1980–81 23.50 1981–82 5.98 1982–83 6.93 1983–84 7.73 1984–85 8.85 1985–86 7.46 1986–87 11.54 1987–88 14.95 1988–89 10.06 For criminal proceedings in the higher courts information is available only from 1985. The percentage increase in total costs per legal aid order for solicitors from that year was:
Per cent. 1985–86 9.79 1986–87 13.53 1987–88 11.32 1988–89 4.40 No information is available on counsel's fees by reference to legal aid orders for the higher courts.