§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek powers to prevent persons obtaining legal aid for frivolous cases and to prescribe the minimum inquiries that should be made before legal aid is granted; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe grant of legal aid in criminal proceedings is a matter for the courts and, while my right hon. Friend is keeping the scheme under review, he has no reason to think that legal aid is in general being given in the absence of sufficient grounds for doing so. Provisions as to the inquiries which must be undertaken are contained in Regulations made under Section 83 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967.