§ 35. Mr. MerchantTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much was spent on state-funded legal aid in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) other European Union member states in the last year for which figures are available. [11793]
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansExcluding administration costs, in 1994–95 the net cost of legal aid in the United Kingdom was £1.4 billion. It is not possible to make direct comparisons with other EU member states since the legal systems are different and the coverage and nature of their legal aid schemes vary considerably.
§ 36. Mr. JenkinTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the cost of legal aid received by asylum seekers in the last financial year for which figures are available. [11794]
§ Mr. EvansNo separate figures are kept for the legal aid costs attributable to asylum matters alone. In 1994–95, total legal aid expenditure for advice and assistance on immigration and nationality cases was less than £14.6 million, representing just over 1 per cent. of the total cost of legal aid.
§ 37. Mr. John Marshall: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has recently received about legal aid. [11796]
Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to broaden the eligibility rules for legal aid; and if he will make a statement. [11795]
§ Mr. EvansThe Lord Chancellor published a Green Paper setting out proposals for the reform of legal aid in May 1995. Both financial eligibility and merits assessment are being examined as part of this process. The Lord Chancellor intends to make an announcement on the future of the Green Paper proposals in the spring.