§ Mr. W. Wellsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what study he has made of the Interim Report on Legal Aid of the Committee on Criminal Appeals set up by Justice, a copy of which has been sent to him; and what action he proposes to take upon it.
§ Mr. BrookeThe Report dealt with a number of matters which have also been reviewed in the final Report of the Working Party on Legal Aid in Criminal Proceedings, recently presented to my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor and me and published on 3rd May. The Working Party suggested that there was a need for a broadly based examination of the whole machinery for providing legal aid in criminal proceedings, including the facilities for legal aid and advice in connection with appeals to the Court of Criminal Appeal. I am considering this Report, and I shall also bear in mind the proposals made by "Justice".