§ 29. Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of applications for grants and refusals of legal aid in courts of summary jurisdiction in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChannonThe information for the financial years 1968–69 to 1971–72 is given in the following table.
Over the four years the percentage of refusals varied in criminal proceedings from 2.5 per cent. to 3.9 per cent. and in civil proceedings from 2.1 per cent. to 4 per cent.
NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS FOR LEGAL AID AND NUMBER OF REFUSALS OF LEGAL AID IN RESPECT OF PROCEEDINGS IN COURTS OF SUMMARY JURISDICTION IN NORTHERN IRELAND Period Civil Number of Applications Proceedings Number of Refusals 1st April, 1968 to 31st March, 1969 1,795 37 1st April, 1969 to 31st March, 1970 1,820 64 1st April, 1970 to 31st March, 1971 2,264 81 1st April, 1971 to 31st March, 1972 2,572 109 Period Criminal Number of Applications Proceedings Number of Refusals 1st April, 1968 to 31st March, 1969 1,345 52 1st April, 1969 to 31st March, 1970 2,519 100 1st April, 1970 to 31st March, 1971 4,412 110 1st April, 1971 to 31st March, 1972 5,395 187