§ Lady HermonTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what proportion of the Department's legal aid budget has been spent in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years. [161891]
§ Mr. LeslieThere are separate budgets for legal aid in England and Wales (which is managed by the Department for Constitutional Affairs) and Northern Ireland (which is managed by the Northern Ireland Court Service). During the years 1998–99 to 2001–02 expenditure on legal aid was as follows.
£ million England and Wales Northern Ireland 1998–99 1,684.0 32.7 1999–2000 1,616.5 37.3 2000–01 1,736.8 40.6 2001–02 1,788.5 44.8 2002–03 1,982.0 148.5 1 Subject to audit.