§ LORD CALVERLEYasked Her Majesty's Government whether they will inform the House what are the amounts granted for legal aid during the past financial year and the number of recipients.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORDuring the financial year a grant in aid of £1,075,000 was made in respect of legal aid in civil proceedings in England and Wales, and 27,636 Civil Aid Certificates were issued. In the same period in Scotland a grant in aid of £135,000 was made in respect of legal aid in civil proceedings and 3,972 Legal Aid Certificates were issued. In the calendar year 1953, 5,113 Legal Air Certificates, 6,555 Defence Certificates and 416 Appeal Aid Certificates were issued in criminal proceedings in England and Wales. Since the cost is borne out of local funds, the amount spent is not readily ascertainable. Statutory legal aid is not yet operative in criminal causes in Scotland but, in the financial year 1953–54, £8,000 was voted to enable the Law Society of Scotland to allocate honoraria to solicitors defending poor persons.
House adjourned at seven minutes before seven o'clock.