§ Baroness Mallalieuasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many firms of solicitors have withdrawn from the duty solicitor scheme in the last 12 months.
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern)Information is not available on the number of firms of solicitors operating under the duty solicitor schemes in England and Wales. However, the Legal Aid Board seeks to ensure that sufficient individual solicitors are available to maintain the high coverage of the duty solicitor schemes. Coverage of the magistrates' court duty solicitor scheme increased from 87.8 per cent. of courts in 1989–90 to 96.2 per cent. in 1990–91, and coverage of the 24-hour duty solicitor scheme increased from 94.6 per cent. of police stations in 1989–90 to 950 per cent. in 1990–91.