HC Deb 21 February 1973 vol 851 cc133-4W
Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the criteria of physical hardship applied by his Department to enable local facilities to be made available for applicants for civil aid certificates in connection with the means test which they are required to undergo at the Department of Health and Social Security.

Mr. Dean

Applicants for legal aid who need to be interviewed are normally asked to attend the nearest interviewing centre. If, however, anyone reasonably represents that because of personal difficulties or transport problems he should not be expected so to attend, arrangements can be and are made to interview him locally. Particular care is paid to the circumstances of the elderly, the sick, the disabled, and women with young children.

Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in how many cases in London in each of the years 1970–72, respectively, local Department of Health and Social Services facilities were made available to applcants for civil aid certificates in connection with the means test which they are required to undergo.

Mr. Dean

The great majority of legal aid applicants in the area covered by the London law societies are dealt with by the Department's legal aid assessment offices. Those interviewed by local supplementary benefit offices numbered, in 1970, 686; in 1971, 713; in 1972, 812.

Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in how many cases in England and Wales in each of the years 1970–72, respectively, local Department of Health and Social Services facilities were made available to applicants for civil aid certificates in connection with the means test which they are required to undergo.

Mr. Dean

The numbers interviewed by local supplementary benefits offices in connection with their legal aid applications were:

England Wales
1970 … … 64,798 4,822
1971 … … 77,300 5,762
1972 … … 73,370 5,890
All other interviews were conducted by the Department's legal aid assessment offices which are situated in large cities.