§ Mr. Crowderasked the Attorney-General if he has received the Report of the Legal Aid Advisory Committee on legal aid for administrative tribunals; and if he will consider extending entitlement to legal aid to include public inquiries on planning matters, so as to benefit private citizens wishing to contest planning proposals and compulsory purchase orders issued by local authorities and who have to finance their own legal representations at present, whereas the expenses of the local authorities are met by the ratepayers.
The Attorney-GeneralMy noble Friend has read the Report of the Advisory Committee with interest. He is at present considering the committee's recommendations in paragraphs 41 and 42 of the report for the extension of legal aid to statutory tribunals. It would be premature, at this stage, for the Government to consider the wider problem of legal aid for statutory inquiries, such as those referred to by the hon. and learned Member, which the Advisory Committee recommends, in paragraph 26, for future study.