§ 56. Mr. Trotterasked the Attorney-General what are the present limits of income and capital beyond which citizens do not qualify for legal aid; when such limits were introduced; what are the present-day equivalents in real terms of the limits; and if he will now propose increasing them in line with the change in the purchasing power of the £ sterling.
The Attorney-GeneralA person is normally eligible for legal aid in civil proceedings if his disposable capital is not more than £1,200 and his disposable income is not more than £1,175. In some cases a contribution is payable. The capital limits were introduced on 18th December 1972 and the income limits on 1st January 1974. The present-day equivalents would be of the order of £1,455 and £1,265 respectively. Regulations will be laid shortly increasing the upper income limits for legal aid from £1,175 to £1,380 representing a rise of over 17 per cent. There are no proposals at present to increase the capital limits.