§ 48. Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the cost to public funds of legal aid and defence certificates in a year to the last convenient date; and what was the average cost of state-aided defence in criminal proceedings in English courts represented by this figure.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganThe cost for England and Wales in 1967–68 was £3,246,343. The average cost of a legal aid certificate was £22 7s. 9d. and of a defence certificate £83 17s. 10d. The figures include the cost of cases where counsel only was assigned at the request of the judge, recorder or chairman to defendants appearing before a court of assize or quarter sessions who had not been granted a defence certificate.