§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the Legal Action Group's report on financial eligibility for legal aid.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Norwood (Mr. Fraser) on 6 November 1989 at column440.
§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Attorney-General what was the value of eligibility limits for legal aid in 1979; and what are, in real terms, the value of those limits today.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe eligibility limits for civil legal aid between April and November 1979 were £3,600 disposable income and £2,500 disposable capital. The retail prices index increased by 103.69 per cent. between 1979 and 1989. Increasing the 1979 civil legal aid limits by the same amount produces £7,332.85 disposable income and £5,092.25 disposable capital. However, the RPI includes increases in the cost of housing—which have been greater than the increase in prices generally—while housing costs are disregarded in assessing legal aid eligibility.