79. Lieut.-Commander Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider introducing legislation to amend the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act, 1949, to provide for the payment out of the Legal Aid Fund of expenses awarded to a successful litigant against an assisted person.
§ Mr. J. StuartThe courts are empowered by Section 2 (3,e) of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act, 1949, to limit an award of expenses against an unsuccessful assisted litigant to such amount, if any, as in the court's opinion is a reasonable one. While I am watching closely the operation of this provision, amending legislation is not at present in contemplation.