§ 96 and 97. Mr. Chapmanasked the Attorney-General (1) whether he is aware that in a case of which he has received details, an elderly lady with a gross income of£5 10s. per week and with savings of£156 has been assessed as able to pay£126 10s. towards costs of a county court action; to what extent this is in accord with the regulations he has issued; and whether he will amend the regulations to ensure that people in such circumstances are not required to pay sums they cannot afford;
(2) whether he is aware that in a case of which details have been sent to him, a single lady with a gross income of£5 per week has been assessed as able to pay£33 towards costs of a county court action; to what extent this is in accord with the regulations he has issued; and whether he will amend the regulations to ensure that people in such limited circumstances are not required to pay sums they cannot afford.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI have invited the National Assistance Board to send me particulars of the cases which the hon. Member has referred to me and I will send them on to him when I receive them. I would remind the hon. Member that the responsibility for determining the resources of applicants for legal aid lies with the Board. Their decision is final and I have no power to review it.
With regard to the latter part of the hon. Member's Questions, I would remind him that my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor and the Law Society are now engaged in making arrangements for the introduction of oral legal advice under Section 7 of the Legal Aid and Advice Act and that it is proposed to bring the remainder of the legal advice scheme into force in the next financial year. Once this scheme has been launched my noble Friend will see what can be done 184W about the financial provisions governing the rate of contribution of persons seeking legal aid.