Legal Aid (Hansard, 2 June 1992)

§ Mr. Byers
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what consultations he has held with the Law Society before issuing the recent circular to justices' clerks concerning the conditions attached to the availability of legal aid for defendants.

Mr. John M. Taylor
None. The Law Society had an opportunity to comment on the rules governing the availability of criminal legal aid in 1989 during the passage of regulations associated with the Legal Aid Act 1988. The circular provides advice and guidance to justices' clerks on the administration of criminal legal aid regulations.

§ Mr. Byers
To ask the the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if his Department has sought any independent legal advice on the lawfulness of their recent circular to justices' clerks concerning the conditions attached to the availability of legal aid for defendants.

Mr. John M. Taylor
The Lord Chancellor's Department has access to legal advice from a variety of sources, but it is not the normal practice to reveal the source of legal advice in any particular case.

§ Mr. Byers
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the implications for duty solicitor schemes of the recent circular from his Department to justices' clerks concerning the conditions attached to the availability of legal aid for defendants.

Mr. John M. Taylor
The circular was not concerned with the operation of the duty solicitor schemes.

§ Mr. Byers
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate was made of the additional costs incurred as a result of the introduction of his Department's recent circular to justices' clerks concerning the conditions attached to the availability of legal aid of(a) cases being adjourned and (b) defendants being remanded in custody whilst proof of income is obtained.

Mr. John M. Taylor
None. The purpose of the circular was to provide advice and guidance on the proper application of the regulations for the grant of criminal legal aid.