§ Mr. Willisasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the present system of legal aid to the poor in Scotland, because of the low income group to which it is confined, is of little assistance to the majority of the working-class population; and will he consider the possibilities of extending its provisions.
The Lord AdvocateMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have had this matter under consideration for some time and he is setting376W up an informal Committee with the following terms of reference:
To consider the detailed recommendations providing for the establishment of Legal Aid Centres contained in the Report of the Committee on Legal Aid and Legal Advice in England and Wales (Cmd. 6641) and to frame a corresponding scheme for Scotland with the necessary modifications; and to include a statement of the estimated cost of the scheme.Mr. John Cameron, D.S.C., K.C., has agreed to act as Chairman of the Committee and the other members will be Mr. F. E. Balfour, S.S.C., Mr. John Henderson, Mr. Alexander Inglis, Mr. John MacBean and Mr. Peter Stephen.