§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he is giving to raising the limits for legal aid in Scotland; what are the current limits; and at what level they would need to be in order to reflect values at 1970 prices.
257W
§ Mr. William RossThe financial limits for legal aid in civil proceedings apply throughout Great Britain. The income limits are up-rated regularly in line with increases in supplementary benefits; and the capital limits, which are discretionary and depend, in part, on the cost of the case in question, are kept under regular review. The most recent increases in the income limits came into effect on 1st September 1974 and the capital limits were last increased in December 1972.
The current upper income limit for legal aid is £1,380 per annum and the current capital limit £1,200. The 1970 limits would at current prices be £1,472 per annum and £775.