§ Mr. Cledwyn Hughesasked the Attorney-General (1) if he will take steps to appoint a panel of competent interpreters who can be made available to the courts of justice in Wales;
(2) If he will take steps to amend the Welsh Courts (Interpretation) Rules, 1959, so that interpreters of Welsh may be paid fees in line with those interpreting
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Year Annual Cost Number of assisted persons Number granted criminal legal aid in magistrates' courts (see Note) Number granted civil aid in magistrates' courts 1950–51 … … 230,000 216 — — 1951–52 … … 260,000 13,899 — — 1952–53 … … 920,000 26,365 — — 1953–54 … … 1,075,000 26,783 — — 1954–55 … … 1,275,000 26,250 — — 1955–56 … … 1,375,000 22,785 — — 1956–57 … … 1,395,000 21,354 — — 1957–58 … … 1,350,000 23,938 — — 1958–59 … … 1,320,000 21,012 — — 1959–60 … … 1,350,000 22,703 — — 1960–61 … … 1,800,000 23,480 — — 1961–62 … … 2,575,000 38,114 7,435 10,155 1962–63 … … 3,594,000 58,631 10,223 26,058 1963–64 … … 4,715,000 70,755 17,202 35,380 1964–65 … … 5,325,000 82,971 22,552 41,245 1965–66 … … 5,575,000 84,626 25,058 41,996 1966–67 … … 5,985,000 88,586 30,407 44,501 1967–68 … … 6,815,000 93,406 42,740 49,281 1968–69 … … 8,681,000 113,847 62,019 56,909 1969–70 … … 10,050,000 119,329 87,674 58,909 1970–71 … … 12,145,000 134,679 109,084 64,915 NOTE: The figures in column 4 are for calendar years.
192Wother languages in British courts of justice.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Government are already considering the suggestions made by the hon. Member.