§ Mr. Oakesasked the Attorney-General how many cases under the statutory legal aid advice scheme were dealt with in each of the last three years; and what was the average remuneration received by the solicitor in each case.
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§ The Attorney-GeneralThe information required is set out in the table below:—
Year Number of Legal Advice Cases Average Remuneration of Solicitor per Case £ s. d. 1964–65 58,593 1 19 1 1965–66 59,717 1 19 10 1966–67 61,981 2 0 0
§ Mr. Oakesasked the Attorney-General (1) if he will increase the income limits on persons seeking advice under the legal aid statutory advice scheme from the present maximum of £7 10s. 0d. to a more realistic figure;
(2) if he will raise the maximum of £2 17s. 6d. per case payable to solicitors under the statutory legal advice scheme.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Legal Aid Advisory Committee have invited the Law Society to make a detailed study of the existing procedure for legal advice with a view to providing a system under which a person without means to pay for a solicitor will be encouraged to seek legal advice under the scheme at the earliest stage. The existing scheme will also require amendments to enable advice to be given to people in custody. Income limits and the scales of solicitors' remuneration will be considered in the light of these requirements.