§ Mr. Dobbieasked the Secretary of State for War whether any appointment has 343W been made in connection with the free legal aid scheme; and, if so, will he give particulars of the same?
§ Sir J. GriggA major and a captain have been appointed to the legal aid section of each command in Great Britain. The command legal aid section, London District, has an additional major and captain to deal with cases from overseas. Each of these officers was a barrister or solicitor in civil life. The total number of paid officers employed under the scheme is 16. In addition there are 4 military lawyer clerks at each command section with 8 in the London district section.
§ Mr. Dobbieasked the Secretary of State for War whether the proposed free legal aid bureaux are to be supplied with up-to-date legal text and case books?
§ Sir J. GriggAs explained in paragraph 7 of the pamphlet on the legal aid scheme, copies of which have been placed in the Library, it is not possible in present circumstances to supply the bureaux with legal text and case books, but it is hoped that the bureaux will have the assistance of law societies, local libraries and local civilian lawyers in this matter.
§ Mr. Dobbieasked the Secretary of State for War with what bodies consultations took place before the free legal aid scheme was brought into operation?
§ Sir J. GriggThe Law Society and the National Council of Social Service.
§ Mr. E. Walkdenasked the Secretary of State for war (1) on what grounds the proposed free legal aid scheme has been limited to the rank of sergeant;
(2) what provision in the free legal aid scheme has been made for married subalterns who have no means other than their Army pay?
§ Sir J. GriggThe free legal aid scheme is an adaptation and enlargement of the Poor Persons' Procedure and its application is therefore at present limited to those persons whose financial circumstances are such that they cannot be expected to undertake litigation in the High Court unaided.