§ Mr. BoatengTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of the adult population in England is currently eligible for legal aid; and what is his estimate of the proportion of the adult population which after 1 April will be eligible for legal aid.
Mr. John M. TaylorEstimates of eligibility that have been made are based on family expenditure survey data and relate to households. The proportion of households currently eligible for civil legal aid is estimated to be between 50 and 55 per cent. in England and Wales. I estimate that after the changes are introduced in April about 48 per cent. of households in England and Wales will be eligible for civil legal aid. There is no upper financial limit for criminal legal aid: all those whose financial resources are such that they require assistance in meeting their costs are eligible and will continue to be eligible.