§ 66. Mr. Weitzmanasked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that in a number of cases persons receiving legal aid are being asked to pay by way of contribution towards costs a sum in excess of what they were previously required to pay by solicitors acting on their behalf in the ordinary way; and what steps he will take in the matter.
The Attorney-GeneralPersons receiving legal aid are asked to contribute the amount that the case will actually cost, unless their maximum contribution, determined by the National Assistance Board, is less than that figure. The committees who grant legal aid, therefore, have to estimate what the probable cost of the action will be in assessing the amount of contribution. If they overestimate, the surplus is, of course, refunded at the end of the case. It does appear that in some cases their estimates have been on the high side, but so far little experience of the actual cost of a legal aid case has
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§ Mr. G. R. StraussFive hundred and fifteen thousand tons of cast iron pipes suitable for gas of water were produced in 1950. No separate figure is available of the quantity actually used for water, but it is estimated that about 227,000 tons were sold for this purpose.