HC Deb 22 November 1971 vol 826 c285W
Mr. Bishop

asked the Attorney-General what is the practice of legal aid committees in granting and continuing legal aid to married women notwithstanding their husband's unwillingness to co-operate in financing an action.

The Solicitor-General

Upon the basis that it is generally right to expect one spouse to assist financially in the other's litigation, the resources of a spouse are treated as the resources of the applicant for legal aid, unless they have a contrary interest in the proceedings, or are living apart In addition, where the Supplementary Benefits Commission is satisfied that there is a real difficulty and not merely a desire to evade contribution, the Commission exercises a discretionary power under the relevant regulations which allows the separation of the resources of spouses in cases where it would be inequitable or impracticable to do otherwise.

Fatstock Guarantee Payments Pigs
£ million
1969–70 1970–71 1971–72
Published Estimate 23.97 21.64 29.0
Adjusted estimate as a result of the Annual Review determinations 32.58 26.15 36.3
Actual out turn 17.34 7.5 As in published estimate