HC Deb 01 April 1996 vol 275 cc20-1W
35. Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of the people of the British Isles were capable of qualifying for legal aid in 1966; what is the latest corresponding figure; and if he will make a statement. [21927]

Mr. Jonathan Evans

The Department has no estimates of eligibility for 1966. The Department's estimate of the proportion of households in England and Wales currently eligible for civil legal aid is 48 per cent.

37. Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what recent representations he has received about legal aid in civil cases. [21929]

Mr. Evans

I have received many representations recently on legal aid in civil cases.

40. Mr. William O'Brien

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many applications for legal aid over £10,000 have been awarded by the Legal Aid Board during the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [21932]

Mr. Evans

Information prior to 1993–94 is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The number of civil legal aid certificates where the Legal Aid Board paid gross costs in excess of £10,000 for the following years was as follows:

  • 1993–94: 5,437
  • 1994–95: 7,346.

In addition, the Legal Aid Board paid gross costs of over £10,000 for criminal legal aid in the magistrates courts as follows.

  • 1993–94: 356
  • 1994–95: 389.

The Legal Aid Board is not responsible for payment of legal aid bills for work done in the higher criminal courts. Those bills are paid directly by the Lord Chancellor's Department and it is estimated that in 1993–94 and 1994–95, the Department paid gross costs of over £10,000 for criminal legal aid in the higher courts as follows:

  • 1993–94: 3,125
  • 1994–95: 3,500.

Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the operations of the Legal Aid Board. [21935]

Mr. Evans

The day-to-day operations of the Legal Aid Board are a matter for its chief executive. The board's annual report, which sets out its performance, is available in the House Library.

Dr. Spink

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the(a) gross cost and (b) net cost of the legal aid fund in (i) 1979, (ii) 1989 and (iii) the last year for which figures are available. [23161]

Mr. Evans

The gross and net costs of the legal aid fund in 1979–80, 1989–90 and 1994–95, being the latest year for which figures are available are:

£ million
Gross cost Net cost
1979–80 124 98
1989–90 716 565
1994–95 1,598 1,299