§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will give a breakdown of the legal aid bill under the different categories of work486W categories for which information is kept including a separate total for divorce and matrimonial expenditure; and if he will give comparable figures for (a) 10 and (b) 15 years ago.
Mr. John M. TaylorNet expenditure in each main category of work was as follows:
1977–78 £ million 1982–83 £ million 1992–93 £ million All Civil 24 68 463 Criminal Higher 22 52 220 Criminal Magistrates' 20 55 197 Green Form 6 31 119 ABWOR1 n/a 8 22 Duty Solicitor Schemes2 n/a n/a 72 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 72 214 1,093 It is not possible to give separate net expenditure figures for civil non-matrimonial and civil matrimonial. It is, however, possible to give separate figures in respect of gross expenditure, which are as follows:
1977–78 £ million 1982–83 £ million 1992–93 £ million Non-matrimonial 10 38 353 Matrimonial 24 50 183 (All figures have been rounded to nearest £ million)
1 Assistance by way of representation. The scheme was introduced in April 1980.
2The duty solicitor magistrates courts scheme and police station scheme were introduced in June 1984 and January 1986 respectively.